About 10,000 homes were initially left without gas

At one point 10,000 homes in the Crook area were cut off, after an underground main was fractured on 12 February.

It took a week for engineers to re-connect supplies to all affected.

Now it has emerged bogus callers are trying to con residents out of portable electric equipment, which was distributed as an emergency measure.

Wear Valley District Council said it had received reports of callers claiming to be from Northern Gas Networks and telling residents they were collecting electrical equipment given to households during the week-long emergency.

Compensation payments

Thousands of emergency heaters, hotplates and microwaves were distributed to households without gas.

A spokesman for Wear Valley Council said: "There have been several reports of callers claiming to be from Northern Gas Networks collecting heaters from those households affected by the gas crisis.

"Wear Valley District Council and Northern Gas Networks are urging residents to be vigilant and ensure they check identification from anyone at their door they do not know."

John O'Grady, of Northern Gas Networks, said the firm had decided to let residents keep the electrical goods in order to prevent them falling prey to conmen.

He was appalled that thieves were attempting to make a profit out of other people's misfortune.