Gas leaks not linked to fire engine blaze as road closes

A main road that has been shut for gas pipe repairs will remain closed for another week after further leaks were found.

The A350 in Charlton Marshall, Dorset, was closed overnight on Thursday to allow repairs to an 8in (20cm) gas pipe.

SGN, which manages the gas network, said works continued throughout the weekend when it identified further leaks, meaning it now needed replace a 100m (328ft) section of pipe.

Dorset Council said the works were not linked to a blaze in a fire engine which closed the road on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for SGN said: "Our engineers have been working hard over the weekend to repair gas escapes located on short section of steel 8in gas pipe located on the A350 at Charlton Marshall, Blandford.

"Due to additional gas escapes identified, repairs are no longer a permanent solution.

"Urgent replacement of this section of pipe is now required to avoid further gas escapes.

"Work has started today to replace the 100m of gas pipe. We are hoping to complete these works by Monday 6 July."

SGN apologised for the disruption, adding: "These are complicated engineering works on a large-diameter, medium-pressure gas main.

"Our engineers will be doing everything they can to complete the replacement work as quickly and as safely as possible."

Disruption began on Wednesday when a different section of the road was closed due to the fire engine fire. No one was injured.

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: "Once the fire vehicle was recovered, we were able to partially re-open the affected stretch of road on the 25th to one lane with traffic light management in place before the resurfacing work could start.

"The part of road affected by the gas works was closed from 25 June.

"We thank residents and road users for their patience."