NEIGHBOURS spent most of Monday in a school and leisure centre after they were evacuated from their homes following a gas leak in the basement of a pub.

Firefighters from St Helens and Eccleston were called to help with the operation at the Bowling Green on Robins Lane, Sutton on Monday (November 24).

A 200 metre cordon was put in place around the pub and an area between Robina Road, Massey Street and Marina Avenue was cleared while engineers were called in to fix the leak.

Those who were evacuated were sent to Sutton Leisure Centre and Robins Lane Primary School where they stayed until it was time to go home.

A council spokesman said: “The return process was in stages with the last residents re-entering their home at 8pm. We would like to thank Sutton Leisure Centre and Robins Lane Primary for their tremendous help and support.”

Engineers from the National Grid traced the leak to a damaged gas main which was leaking into the cellar and repairs were completed by 2am on Tuesday (November 25).

People were allowed back into their homes and the pub between 6.30am and 7.30am later that day after further safety checks were carried out.