Traffic was in chaos on the busiest shopping day of the week today after a major gas leak closed Oxford's Magdalen Bridge.

High Street was sealed off yesterday when contractors installing cables in the area damaged a large gas main near Magdalen College.

Police said there was no risk of explosion, but it was expected to remain closed until lunchtime today.

People living nearby were warned to keep their windows shut to avoid possible irritation to eyes and skin while the gas seeped out. Officers blocked the High Street to vehicles and pedestrians between Longwall Street and The Plain, leaving alternative routes in and out of the city at a standstill. Duncan McGraw, of Oxford Police, said: "We are urging people not to drive into the city but to use park and rides and travel in by bus."

The leak was plugged late yesterday but Christine Riches, of gas emergency service Tranco, said permanent repairs would take longer. "Engineers are still on site but the bridge is likely to be closed until midday. There's quite a lot of damage and they need to get in a specific part to repair it," she said.

David Whitley, of bus firm Stagecoach, said: "From our point of view it's our worst nightmare. All the main city services and high frequency routes are up the spout." Magdalen College closed off entrances on to High Street and put up posters urging people not to smoke.

Wesley Brown, 17, a chef at Wadham College, was trying to get to a football final between Wadham and Oriel colleges, at the Iffley Road sports ground, when he found his way barred.

He said: "I'm feeling pretty cheesed off. My friend is playing in the final and it looks like we're going to miss it.

"It has been chaos with all these roadworks in the city centre. Something like this was bound to happen." Luis Carrera, 39, owner of Club Latino, in St Clements, had popped in to the city centre to pay some bills.

He said: "They won't let me through, but what can I do about it - I'm not going to walk all the way round! It's just lucky that I am not in a rush."

Christ Church kitchen worker Keith Palfreeman, of the Waynflete Buildings, St Clements, added: "I live two minutes' walk from here but I can't get home from work. It's just one of those things."

Story date: Saturday 13 March

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.