An experienced emergency gas engineer described his shock at finding dangerously high levels of gas leaking inside an unoccupied house in Stockport, which had spread to several neighbouring homes in the terraced street. 

Joe Loughridge, from the North West's gas emergency service, Cadent, told Nub News "I doubt this situation could have continued much longer without an explosion." 

The engineer, one of a team covering Stockport and High Peak for Cadent, found high levels of gas leaking from a ruptured pipe two houses further down from where a smell was originally reported.

Joe was further shocked to learn residents had 'smelled something' for four days, before deciding to report it in. 

The ruptured gas pipe in the unoccupied Stockport home (Cadent).

During Gas Safety Week, Joe urged owners of unoccupied properties to schedule regular gas safety checks and to discuss options with a Gas Safe registered engineer, if the property is likely to be unoccupied for a long time. 

He also pleaded with everyone to act immediately if they ever smell gas, day or night, call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999*. 

Last month (August), Joe was dispatched to a terraced street in Stockport, where a resident thought they could smell gas.

He said: "On entering the caller's property, it was clear there was a smell of gas upstairs and my equipment confirmed there were gas readings.

"The boiler was downstairs and the meter was in the cellar, so I knew from experience that there could be something serious happening in an adjoining property.

"I quickly went outside and checked the neighbouring properties and was getting gas readings there too. 

"When I got to the property two doors to the right of the property where I'd started, there was a very strong smell of gas at the front door.

"It was unoccupied and had been for a while. 

"We carry a probe that we can put through the letterbox, and it was telling me that the gas readings inside where just one per cent away from creating explosive conditions.

"I immediately called for assistance, this had escalated massively, and started to evacuate residents from neighbouring properties.

Cadent provides the North West's 24/7, 365 day a year gas emergency service (Wiki Media).

"We managed to break down the door, which ventilated the gas away.  

"When I was eventually able to investigate, I discovered the original ceiling of the cellar had collapsed and dragged the old lead piping with it, ripping a hole in it. 

"The old piping was in a very poor state and gas had been left switched on, even though it had been unoccupied for a very long time. "

Joe is one of hundreds of engineers who provide Cadent's 24/7, 365-day-a-year gas emergency service for North West England, as well as other parts of the UK.

He said: "It was very fortunate that we arrived when we did, as the gas had been spreading down the row, both sides. 

"I doubt this situation could have continued for much longer without an explosion and possibly serious injury, or even loss of life.

"One resident told me they had noticed a strange smell in their house for about four days, but didn't know what it was.  

"It's just so important to always act immediately if you ever smell gas, and call the gas emergency service on 0800 111 999*. 

"I would also make an appeal to anyone who owns a property that is unoccupied for a long period of time.

"You must maintain a regime to check everything is all safe and consult a Gas Safe registered engineer, to make informed choices about longer-term options." 

Cadent provides the North West's 24/7, 365 day a year gas emergency service, with engineers ready to respond quickly, day and night, to reports of smells of gas, or damage to gas pipes, and to assist in multi-agency response to major incidents.

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