SHOPPERS were evacuated after a fire broke out in Greenford Broadway caused by a ruptured underground gas main.
Two fire engines carrying 10 firefighters were called after the explosion in Ruislip Road East near the junction with Greenford Road at 12pm on Wednesday.
Flames continued to burn for more than two hours while engineers from National Grid arrived to fix the leak.
Around 25 people from shops were evacuated and the road was closed from Greenford Road to Greenford Avenue causing traffic delays and buses to divert. Traffic delays trailed back to Hanwell and West Ealing.
The fire broke out near the scaffolding from building work to Raghis Supermarket on the corner of the crossroads.
One onlooker who asked not to be named said: "I heard a bang but I thought it came from the road. The fire brigade came very quickly and closed the road for safety. I can't cross to Greenford Broadway but safety comes first and foremost."
A police officer on the scene told the Gazette: "A gas leak caught fire. At this stage we don't know what caused it but that will be investigated. There we no casualties. The road was shut down straight away
