National Grid engineers have restored a further 100 gas supplies today to homes in Caddington, near Luton.

The remaining 100 properties, from the original 1,300, are without gas, and engineers from across the region have given up their Christmas holidays and are working around the clock to try to reconnect them before Christmas. Gas supplies were lost when water from a burst main entered the local gas pipeline network at the weekend.

The streets still without gas include Millfield Way, Mancroft Road, Crosslands, and a few properties on Dunstable Road.  We are continuing to remove water from the gas pipes in these streets.   

Although, we have been able to get gas supplies on up to the gas meter, a small number of properties may still have water beyond the gas meter and in appliances.  We are organising gas safe registered engineers to visit these properties to remove the water and safely reconnect the gas appliances.

For the residents without gas or electricity tomorrow, Caddington Parish and Central Bedfordshire Council have arranged for a Christmas dinner to be served at Caddington Village School.

To help National Grid restore gas supplies, it is important that the electricity network in Caddington is maintained. Residents are asked to use only essential electricity appliances and switch off any non-essential appliances and lights.

For vital safety reasons residents must not try to switch their gas back on at the meter or use gas appliances until an engineer has called.

All National Grid engineers carry identity cards and residents should always check the identity of callers before allowing them in their homes.

Darren Elsom, National Grid incident controller, said: “We are working hard to get as many people back on gas supply as soon as possible.

“Engineers must visit every single property to turn the gas back on and check it is flowing properly to appliances.

“It is essential that people wait for an engineer to call so we can safely reconnect supplies. We know this is a difficult time for residents and we thank them for their patience as we work to get their gas supply restored as soon as we can.

“We have engineers giving up Christmas holidays to help out here and the community spirit has been fantastic. We would like to thank local volunteers who have been helping to distribute information to homes and checking on vulnerable residents and the support from Central Bedfordshire Council, the parish council, the Red Cross St John’s Ambulance, WRVS, and BHC4X4”

The incident room at the Sports and Social Club in Manor Road, Caddington will remain open on Christmas day where information and assistance is available to affected households.

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