National Grid has confirmed the cause of a gas leak which led to an evacuation on Monday November 21 was due to damage to a gas main caused by a third party.

National Grid told getwestlondon the damage was caused by a third party doing some work in the area.

"They dug down, damaged our main and we went and fixed it but as their work is still ongoing, the excavation remains there," a National Grid spokesman said.

The repairs to the gas main were completed on November 24, but contractors carrying out work on the road remain on the site and Transport for London said Station Road will remain closed until Monday November 28.

On Monday, large parts of Hayes town centre were cordoned off with homes and shops being forced to evacuate.

The affected area in Hayes, according to the council's report

A spokesman for National Grid told getwestlondon: "We were called to a report of a damaged gas main at the junction of Station Road and Crown Close shortly after 11.30am yesterday (Monday 22 November).

"Our engineers attended, made safe and repaired the gas main."

Hillingdon Council announced over Twitter that Station Road was closed.

The closures were in place from just after 11.30am until around 2pm, while repairs were carried out.

Connor William told getwestlondon that the town was "chaos" during the evacuation incident."

"I was in Costa Coffee in Hayes and I was drinking my coffee and the police came in and explained what happened - there was a gas leak, the whole street was chaos and no was able to move and it was bad,” he said.

National Grid stress that suspected gas escapes should be reported to them on 0800 111 999.

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