More than a dozen people were evacuated from their homes last night after contractors ruptured a gas pipe.

The families stayed with friends and relatives, in a local hotel and even on an office floor after being advised to leave their homes in Marcham Road, Abingdon.

The leak could be smelled as far away as the town centre.

It happened shortly before 11pm when contractors, working next to the site of the town's new police station, damaged a gas pipe using a digger bucket. Audrey Trafford, who lives just yards from the scene, said: "It was very dangerous. Transco and the police just told us we had to get out of our homes, we had no choice.

"It was a really strong smell. My husband was going to take one of our neighbours to her son's house but they wouldn't let him start his car. We had to push it down the road."

Gas pipeline company Transco arranged for Mrs Trafford, her husband and son, to stay in the Four Pillars Hotel.

Many of the neighbours gathered at the Air Balloon and White Horse pubs, where staff helped find them accommodation. A resident living in nearby Ock Mill Close said: "We were asked if we wanted to evacuate, but I prefer the comforts of home so I thought I would stay where I was."

Another evacuee said the leak was so fierce he could hear it.

Christine Riches, spokesman for Transco, said: "Some contractors had damaged one of our pipes using a digger bucket. Our people worked all night and had repaired the damage by 4.45am."

Story date: Thursday 08 April

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