Families evacuated amid gas-leak fears

CRASH SCENE . . . the gas meter struck by the car

AROUND 10 homes were evacuated at dead of night after a car crashed into a house causing major fears of a gas leak.

The driver of a grey Fiat Punto fled the scene after ploughing the vehicle into a gas meter attached to a semi-detached property on Medway Road, in Shaw, at about 2.45am on Saturday.

Residents complained of a strong smell of gas and emergency services moved people living near the crash site to safety. Everyone was back in their homes within two hours.

Dave Gartside, who lives next door to the crash scene, said: “My wife and I were just coming back in from a night out when I noticed the police around, so it was a case of getting my son and my mother-in-law out of the house as quickly as possible.”

Watch Commander Phil Courtnell from Oldham Fire Station said: “The vehicle had damaged the gas pipe so the safety of the residents was the main priority. National Grid capped off the leak. It could have been a lot more serious.”

Police have cnfirmed a man has been arrested.