OVER 3,000 workers were evacuated from offices and factories after a major gas leak. Police and the fire service launched a full scale emergency operation after contractors accidently broke into a large gas main at the Fujitsu site in Cavendish Road

OVER 3,000 workers were evacuated from offices and factories after a major gas leak.

Police and the fire service launched a full scale emergency operation after contractors accidently broke into a large gas main at the Fujitsu site in Cavendish Road, Stevenage, on Friday morning.

Factories and offices within a 400 yard radius were immediately evacuated in case there was an explosion as Transco engineers worked urgently to mend the broken gas main.

At one stage police and fire chiefs at the scene considered closing the A1(M) between junction 7 at the Novotel and junction 8 at Coreys Mill.

During the operation to repair the gas main, the industrial area of the town was brought to a standstill as police closed Gunnels Wood Road to all traffic and diverted it on to Lytton Way.

Staff from offices and factories were kept well away from the Fujitsu site by a police cordon.

Police say they treated the emergency as a major incident and were pleased how the emergency services coped with the evacuation of premises in the area.

David Sillitoe, director of group property for Fujitsu services, said: “I can confirm there was a gas leak on the site and staff were back in the building within an hour and a half.”