1,200 Caddington homes left without water and gas

Around 1,200 households had been left without gas on Sunday after the freezing weather caused a water main in Luton to explode, destroying gas pipes.

Engineers worked overnight to track which components of the system had been damaged and had started pumping out water from the pipes. They had also visited affected homes in Caddington to make sure meters were switched off while the repairs were carried out.

National Grid’s Head of Emergency for Gas Distribution, Harry Buchanan, informed that about 50 engineers were deployed onsite during the incident – including technicians from East Anglia, and the East and West Midlands.

In a released statement, Veolia Water apologized to Caddington locals for the mishap. The water supplier said that the icy weather was the most likely reason for the water main to burst. The company also informed that its engineers and repair crew responded immediately to repair the water system and to restore the supply.

Alternatively, cooking and heating facilities had been provided in a close by Sports and Social Club, where a room had been set up for the affected residents.

Volunteers from the local communities had also helped to distribute information letters to villagers. The restoration effort was moreover supported by the local authority’s emergency officers.

Caddington Councillor Richard Stay, who is also the deputy leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said that the event was a disaster with the Christmas holiday fast approaching, but the community response had been incredible. He informed that emergency teams had worked closely with the volunteers from St John’s Ambulance, Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and Red Cross to support the local people.