RESIDENTS were evacuated from their home last night after a fire broke out on a gas main pipe.

A crew from Basingstoke fire station was called to Speckled Wood Road, in Popley, at 10.55pm after receiving a call from a member of the public.

One property was evacuated and the gas supply to five other properties in the road was temporarily isolated as a precautionary measure, whilst the fire was contained and a team carried out a repair on the gas pipe.

Crew manager Ewan Ross told The Gazette: “It was a case of burning it off. It was left to burn as long as it was not threatening anything, until the gas company could shut it off.”

Hannah Brett, spokesperson for Southern Gas Networks, said the company is currently investigating the cause of the fire, adding: “We were called to Speckled Wood Road late on Thursday evening following reports of a fire on our service pipe.

“Our engineers worked alongside the emergency services to contain the fire and make the situation safe.”