DURSLEY was brought to a standstill in February 2007, after a major gas leak closed the centre of the town, forcing shop workers to evacuate their premises.

Fire crews and police were called to Silver Street after reports of a domestic gas leak.

Silver Street, and other adjoining roads, including Castle Street, were closed to traffic, and buildings around the area were evacuated as a safety precaution.

Vijay Patel, owner of News Centre newsagents on Silver Street, said: “We were all evacuated, us, next door and all the flats. They kept us outside until about 5.30pm.

“It really smelt, and it was really quite scary.

“It caused chaos because it was just as the kids were coming out of school, so the traffic was terrible. No one could go anywhere.

“We got very cold because we had to leave everything in the shop, our coats, keys, money and mobiles. We couldn’t go back and get anything.”

One appliance from Dursley fire station attended the scheme, and police officers were also present to help re-direct drivers.

A spokesman from Wales and West Utilities, who were called to repair the leak, said: “We were alerted to a gas leak in the Silver Street area of Dursley on Tuesday afternoon.

“A team was dispatched, who found the lead had been caused by a third party working in the area. Our team isolated the leak and have carried out the necessary repair work.

“The emergency services evacuated nearby shops as a precautionary measure.”

It had been reported in the previous month that a major fire was caused in Charfield after a gas leak, when workmen cut through a gas pipe in the village.

Nobody was hurt in the incident but nearby houses were evacuated and all traffic was stopped from travelling through Charfield.