POLICE and security staff sealed off parts of Winsford town centre last Wednesday morning after construction workers damaged a gas main.

Work was underway in the old parking area off The Drumber at around 9.30am when the smell of gas began to creep through Winsford Cross Shopping Centre, prompting panic among shoppers.

Police were called out and immediately started to evacuate parts of the shopping centre, together with security staff from Modus, who manage the centre.

A spokesman for Modus said that she did not believe the evacuation meant a significant loss of revenue for shopkeepers.

But Brian Tong, from Martins Newsagents, whose shop was one of the first to be evacuated and last to be reopened, disagreed.

He said: "The impact on us was that we lost quite a bit of trade - it was three hours until we got up and running again.

"Although we got the all-clear at about 11.30am it was noon before we could get the tills and everything else sorted out. I am not sure whether the company will be taking any action over lost revenue yet.

"The customers were more bemused with the evacuation than anything else - it wasn't very well executed."

A Balfour Beatty spokesman said: "This happened while workers were carrying out essential work on the old car park site. The gas main was damaged and as a cautionary measure parts of the enclosed shopping mall were shut off to the public.

"We are launching an investigation to find out exactly what happened and we would like to apologise to all members of the public and retailers in Winsford Cross Shopping Centre that were affected."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk