FIREFIGHTERS prepared for a gas blast emergency after contractors broke a main, disrupting a busy main road for eight hours.

Seven homes and a pub were evacuated as emergency repairs were carried out at Hollins Grove, Darwen.

The leak started when contracters for North West Water, who are carrying out sewer repairs in the area, hit a pipe.

A section of the road from Hollins Grove Street was cordoned off between 9.30am and 5.30pm.

Police turned back traffic from the M65 junction, Blackburn Road, to avoid further congestion and a diversion route was put in place.

Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings allowed vehicles to use their land to gain access to Goosehouse Lane. Sub officer Paul Yates, of Darwen fire station, said: "We were on stand-by with three appliances and the incident support unit from Accrington, mainly because of the explosive nature of the gas that was coming out.

"There was such a big hole and a lot of gas coming out that any ignition source might have set fire to it. Even a car driving past might have been enough to do it.

"They will have to dig up the whole road again to fix it properly so there will be more disruption."

A spokesman for Transco added: "We carried out temporary repairs on the medium pressure main yesterday in order to get the traffic moving again.

"Today we will be carrying out permanent repairs which should take a day or two but should not cause any additional disruption.

"All the supplies have been restored and North West Water will be expected to pick up the bill for the damage."

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