Homes cleared in crash gas scare

RESIDENTS were eveacuated from their homes for more than an hour after a crash caused a gas leak.

The incident happened at 11.40am yesterday when a collision between a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a red Peugeot 307 sent one crashing into a gas pipe outside a property in Rochdale Road, Shaw, close to the junction with Chamber Road.

The burst pipe was temporarily repaired by fire crews using a specialist sealant and a 50m cordon enforced and all houses evacuated until 1.15pm, when residents were allowed back to their homes.

An 80-year-old woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.