Fears of a gas explosion saw emergency services close off the centre of Wellington at mid-day on Monday after a major leak in the Nat West bank
.
Manager Mike Iddon said: ”Around 11 o’clock a customer said he could smell gas in the building. Two of my colleagues agreed with him so we called the gas company, whose engineer arrived and called a major alert.”
Fire engines sealed off each end of the High St and firemen wearing breathing apparatus were seen entering the bank. By mid-afternoon the leak had been made safe and the street open to traffic again.