Residents not yet home after gas substation crash

Residents evacuated after a car crashed into a gas substation in West Sussex have remained in alternative accommodation overnight as repair works continued.

People were advised to avoid the area after the crash on Monday morning in Pagham Road, near Nyetimber.

Efforts were being made to ensure the evacuated residents of six flats and one house can "return home as soon as possible", Gas company SGN said.

A replacement governor was delivered to the site and was being prepared for connection to the existing network on Tuesday morning, spokesperson Bradley Barlow said late on Monday.

Engineers have now completed their assessment of the damage, with repair works ongoing, Mr Barlow said.

He added: "Due to the size of the infrastructure involved, we need to complete this work within the existing road closure in Pagham Road and Hook Lane."

Mark Stevens, who was among the residents evacuated, recalled hearing a "bang" at about 03:30 GMT on Monday, which "rocked the building a little bit".

Fellow resident Jon Coker said it was "alarming", especially for his elderly mother who was also evacuated.

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