People were evacuated from their homes and a 50 metre cordon was erected after a gas main failed.
Emergency services were called to St Hugh's House on Stanley Road, Bootle at around 12.45pm on Thursday (April 27). Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS), Merseyside Police and gas company Cadent attended after a report of a gas explosion risk, due to a gas leak in the building.
On arrival, MFRS crews found a failed gas main. Police installed a 50 metre cordon and evacuated St Hugh's House and other surrounding buildings.
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Many evacuated people gathered around the huge cordon, which closed parts of Merton Road, Stanley Road, Balliol Road, University Road and Trinity Road.
One man who spoke to the ECHO at the scene said his car was parked just inside the cordon, with his belongings inside. This had happened to a number of people, who were waiting for it to be safe to retrieve their vehicles.
Another man, who works in St Martins House on Stanley Road, said he saw police arrive at the scene from his window. He and his colleagues were told to collect their belongings and leave as their building was evacuated.
Others said they left their homes in flip-flops and dressing gowns during the evacuation. Many people returned home to be met by the cordon and were directed to Bootle Town Hall, where they could wait until it was safe to return.
Cadent worked to access a damaged pipe and cap it. Police officers, fire fighters, Sefton Council and engineers from Cadent worked together to keep the area safe and isolate the gas.
Shortly after 2pm, all the building’s utilities were confirmed to be isolated and the cordons remained in place. At approximately 3.50pm, the gas was isolated to the building.
Cadent completed a first sweep of the building at 4.42pm. It showed zero readings.
A second sweep of the building began around 5pm. It was deemed safe by Cadent and MFRS crews left the scene at 5.34pm.
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