National Grid Engineers have visited all properties in Rossendale now and are now in the process of revisiting the 2500 properties they have been unable to gain access to today.

Around 18,000 properties lost their supply on Monday morning after gas caught fire during repair work on a 500mm medium pressure main in Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire.

Around 200 gas engineers are still working around the clock to restore all supplies in Bacup, Waterfoot, Newchurch, Rawtenstall and Crawshawbooth.

National Grid’s Director of Operations Jon Butterworth said: “We believe around 10 per cent of properties may be empty over Christmas and some others don’t have gas, so the number now needing reconnection is less than we had feared. But our engineers will continue calling on people throughout Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day. Working hand in hand with the community demonstrates the real power of action, and with their co-operation we hope to help local people have a warm Christmas after all.

“This is a mammoth task but local people have been fantastic. I want to apologise for the inconvenience but also to thank people for their patience while we have been fixing the problem, and also for letting us into their homes to get their gas supplies on for Christmas.

“We are also making second visits to properties where there was no answer earlier but we have a dedicated workforce, many of whom have given up their own Christmas holidays, and as long as we can get access to properties we will get people back on gas supply in time for Christmas Day.”

Safety remains National Grid’s top priority and it is necessary to reconnect the gas supply in a safe and systematic manner.

Our engineers will require access to homes and businesses in order to restore the gas supply and relight the appliances safely. Householders must not attempt to switch their gas supply on before an engineer has visited their property.
 
In the meantime people without gas should check all gas appliances are turned off and their gas supply is turned off at the meter. 
 
Please remember to ask for identification when an engineer requests access to your property. If you have any doubt to the authenticity of the engineers, please call 0845 605 6677.
 
If anyone requires help or has any concerns please call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999.

Further media enquiries to 0800 111999 and ask for the duty press officer.