Up to 100 people were evacuated from an industrial estate today after workmen ruptured a gas main.

Police and firefighters cordoned off an area of 100sq metres after the gas leak outside Moss Plastics on the Langford Lane industrial estate, Kidlington.

Staff at firms in Langford Lane, Bankside and Station Field were evacuated for nearly two hours as gas contractors isolated a leak in a medium pressure main.

Gosford Hill sports centre, in Oxford Road, became a temporary refuge for hundreds of workers.

A JCB driver digging a hole for a new bridge over the Oxford Canal ruptured a main at about 7.45am, causing natural gas to escape.

Four fire crews rushed to the scene fearing an explosion.

Station officer Michael Bingham, of Abingdon fire station, said his main concern was that the gas would contaminate the St Ivel Dairy in Langford Lane. He said: "It was quite a serious incident. It had all the hallmarks of going wrong, but it turned out how we all wanted it to.

"It was a difficult situation because if the wind had changed the gas would have contaminated the dairy next door."

Gas pipeline company Transco had isolated the leak by 10am and workers were allowed to return.

Transco spokesman Sarah Tengvall said: "There is always a danger of an explosion but the gas dissipates quickly and we evacuated people as a precaution. This was a standard repair for us."

The JCB driver was working for Moss Construction. Moss Plastics, which produces plastic parts used in the car industry, is a separate company.

Moss Plastics operations director Bernard Wheeler said: "We have had to shut all production down and it will take four to five hours to get back on track. We have probably lost around £30,000 due to the leak." Police cordoned off the area and arranged for workers to be taken to the sports centre.

Moss plastics worker Karen Neville said: "I was stopped coming in to work and told there was a gas leak but I only live nearby so I went home and had a cup of tea."

Colleague Nikki Fifield, 25, added: "There was a fire engine blocking off the road and we were told we couldn't come into work."

Moss Construction was unavailable for comment.

Story date: Monday 01 March

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