Road closures and evacuations following Croydon gas leak

Road closures and evacuations have been implemented by police and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) following a gas leak.

Police were called at around 11am this morning to reports of a gas leak in Croydon Road, the incident was located on the junction of Sumner Road and St James’s Road.

The gas company SGN have confirmed the gas main has been damaged by a faulty electricity cable.

A 25-metre cordon was put in place and properties in the affected area were evacuated as a precaution.  Six bus routes are currently on diversion because of the incident. 

Roads affected include London Road, St James’s Road, Sumner Road, Elmwood Road, and Windmill Road, Croydon. 

Met officers, the LFB and SGN gas engineers attended the scene.

A spokesman from SGN said: “Our gas engineers are in attendance at a gas leak in London Road.  Our team has made the area safe, stopped the gas leak and begun emergency repairs. It’s too early to say at this stage how long repairs will take to complete.”

A crew from Croydon fire station also worked to locate the leak and make the scene safe.

The LFB was called at around 11am and the incident was over for firefighters by around 12.30pm. The scene was left in the care of the gas authority and Metropolitan Police.

A spokesman from the Met said: “We thank the public for their co-operation while repairs are made to the gas main.”

Officers remain on scene and motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area due to significant closures.

Pictured top: Junction of Sumner Road and St James’s Road where the gas leak has been located (Pictured: Google Street View)