Engineers restore gas for Christmas

Dec 24 2008

Power has been restored to around half the 18,000 homes left without gas since Monday, National Grid said.

Homes in the Rossendale area of Lancashire were left without fuel after a gas main ruptured.

Many families feared being unable to cook their Christmas Day turkey. The incident also knocked out electricity to 30,000 homes in the area but United Utilities restored supplies on Monday night.

National Grid pledged residents would be reconnected on Christmas Eve by its army of up to 300 engineers.

Jon Butterworth, National Grid's director of operations, said today: "We're saying our target is later this evening. Everybody who is in will be connected. If they're not in there's not a lot we can do about it. We're doing everything possible to get them turned on."

By 4pm around 9,000 homes had been reconnected, National Grid said.

Householders displayed true British spirit in the face of adversity.

Pat Holden, 63, lives with her Persian cats Ocean, Sky and Keira in a flat on Lomas Lane, Rawtenstall. The former shoe factory worker, who has suffered two heart attacks and had a heart bypass operation, had her gas switched back.

She said: "The first night was a bit miserable because it was really cold. It were a godsend when the electric came back on because that meant I've got a microwave, toaster and kettle and I've been boiling hot water to keep clean.

"My ex-husband brought me a heater and it was warm last night. I can have a bath tonight, that's what I've missed most. It's the Dunkirk spirit, you just get on with it."