Residents in Halliwell were evacuated from their homes after reports of gas leak.

Halliwell Road was partially shut and a number of residents were asked to leave their homes by emergency services at around teatime.

Emergency services were at the scene for more than three hours as they investigated the cause, which came just hours after reports petrol had been poured down a drain.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 February, fire crews were called to reports of a gas leak on Halliwell Road, Bolton.

“Two fire engines from Bolton North and Bolton Central were quickly mobilised to the scene. A cordon was established and a number of homes were evacuated as a precaution.

“A number of residents had reported a strong petrochemical smell coming from the basement of their homes. This followed reports of a large quantity of petrol being disposed of in a nearby drain earlier in the day.

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“Firefighters flushed the local drainage system with water and performed checks to ensure the properties were safe.

"One home was found to have an elevated level of carbon monoxide. A man living there was assessed at the scene by paramedics from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), but did not require further treatment.

“GMFRS crews were at the incident for about three and a half hours.”

 

A number of residents stopped in a nearby pub until they were allowed back in their homes.

One resident Ashleigh Moore said: "There's a manhole right in front of a house and they said that someone might have poured petrol down there or it might have been from the roadworks."