RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes after a gas leak was reported in the centre of Otterbourne.

More than 15 fire fighters from Winchester and Eastleigh were sent to the scene in Kiln Lane after they received reports of a gas leak in Otterbourne at about 10.20pm last night

Emergency services moved to close the Main Street from Kiln Lane to Poles Lane and a diversion was in place.

Engineers from SGN, formerly Southern Gas Network, are on site repairing the leak.

The road had finally reopened by 7.30am this morning.

A spokesman from SGN said: “Our engineers are working to repair a gas leak in Main Road, Otterbourne, at the junction with Kiln Lane and we are working closely with emergency services, who are evacuating a number of properties in the immediate area, to make the pipe safe.”

They added that engineers will be working overnight.

Two crews from both fire stations were sent to the scene to locate the leak before one from Winchester was later told to stand down.

As many as 20 residents were forced to leave their homes and spent the night in a nearby village hall.

Some also reported hearing a 'loud, massive bang' around 10pm last night and that gas could be smelt up to half-a-mile away.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance Service said that they received a call at 10.25pm and sent one ambulance crew, one officer and a hazardous area response team.

A SGN worker was treated at the scene and taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital with minor head and facial injuries.

It is not yet known how he was injured.