Blitz spirit for evacuees after gas leak
HOMELESS for a night in Southport, these evacuees found themselves sleeping in a leisure centre after a mains gas leak.
Around 100 people were told to leave their homes and 650 had their gas cut off. Southport Hospital had to rely on its oil reserves and 30 OAPs, families, young children and a dog ended up spending the night at Dunes Leisure Centre.
As a Blitz spirit took over the town, Sandra Watkins, who spent the night at the leisure centre, said: “The staff at Dunes were absolutely marvellous.”
Another evacuee, Katy Rushton, said: “The people here and the voluntary service have been fantastic, they’ve been so helpful.
“They were putting out drinks and sleeping bags, but sleeping on a floor in a leisure centre wasn’t that fantastic!”
A gas leak at 7pm on Wednesday caused a huge response to swing into action. Police, fire, paramedics, Sefton Council and the National Grid held a “category gold” meeting to co-ordinate the evacuation.
