 About 2,500 homes have been without gas for five days |
A gas leak affecting thousands of homes in County Durham has also resulted in an upsurge in community spirit. About 2,500 homes remain without gas five days after a pipe was ruptured near Spennymoor during work to modernise the network.
Electric hot plates and heaters have been handed out, and people have been pulling together to help each other.
John O'Grady from Northern Gas Networks said: "We have been really impressed by the attitude of local people."
He said that people who had electric water heaters had been letting those without use their bathrooms for washing, while people with electric cooking appliances had been inviting others for meals.
He added: "It has really brought home the meaning of community spirit."
The leak itself has now been repaired but engineers will be working throughout the weekend to reconnect all the homes.
They hope to be finished by Monday.
One-Minute World News 
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