A GAS leak which led to an evacuation of residents from a row of houses in Yate has highlighted the importance of fire services.

Due to government cuts to Avon Fire and Rescue services, there is a threat to night cover at the Yate Fire Station.

If plans go ahead, firefighters will be available on-call rather than based at the station, thus increasing response times.

The residents who were evacuated in Yate were thankful to have been attended to so quickly after calling the emergency services.

Emergency gas numbers were called initially and nobody was available to answer, raising concern over what one should do in this sort of situation.

Everyone feels lucky that there was no explosion as a result and that all were led to safety by fire and rescue crews as the problem was resolved.

But what if this had been more serious and happened in a year’s time, when firefighters could have taken an extra time to respond due to having to travel to the station before going out?