St Paul’s Cathedral is evacuated due to gas leak

St Paul’s Cathedral was evacuated this afternoon following a gas leak with 50 people told to leave and another 200 ordered out of surrounding buildings.

London Fire Brigade crews were called to reports of a gas main leaking into a basement at a restaurant and office block on St Paul’s Churchyard.

Two fire engines, two fire rescue units and support vehicles were sent to the scene after the brigade was called at 1.20pm, and an 80ft (25m) cordon was set up.

Meanwhile, another gas leak was reported two miles away at shops on Regent Street – close to Oxford Circus – in the West End in a ‘separate incident’, the brigade said.

In this incident at 1.50pm, gas leaked into the basement of an adjacent premises, with the Metropolitan Police evacuating about 150 people from buildings in the area. 

The St Paul’s leak meant Thameslink trains were not stopping at City Thameslink station, while Underground trains were going straight through St Paul’s station this afternoon.

Roads policing officer PC Harry Rance tweeted a picture of a cordoned-off Ludgate Hill looking towards St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London, saying: ‘Major road closures’

Meanwhile, another gas leak was reported two miles away at shops on Regent Street in the West End in a ‘separate incident’, the brigade said. Pictured: Police cordons at the scene 

Emergency services at Oxford Circus in London which was closed off due to a suspected gas leak

Earlier today Year 1 pupils from the £18,000-a-year Kew Green Preparatory School in West London became the first school to visit St Paul’s following its reopening. 

Keir Baker, who works for law firm Morgan Lewis, said: ‘We’ve had to evacuate our offices. The entirety of the square around the cathedral is cordoned off by police.

‘I’ve had to leave my laptop behind. I think it’s 50/50 on whether this’ll be seen as a good excuse for missing today’s deadlines.’

City of London Police initially said St Paul’s Churchyard and Creed Lane were closed in both directions, before a further series of wider closures was put in place.

In the Oxford Circus incident at 1.50pm (CCTV footage pictured), gas leaked into the basement of an adjacent premises, with the Metropolitan Police evacuating about 150 people from buildings in the area.

Second gas leak on London’s Regent Street 

Separately today, London Fire Brigade crews were also called to a gas leak two miles away at shops on Regent Street in the West End after a gas main ruptured below ground level.

In the incident at 1.50pm, gas leaked into the basement of an adjacent premises, with the Metropolitan Police evacuating about 150 people from buildings in the area.

There was a separate gas leak two miles away at shops on Regent Street today

A 160ft (50m) cordon was put in place as a precaution, with two fire engines and two fire rescue units are on scene along with additional support vehicles.

A police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called to Regent Street at 13:48hrs on Tuesday, 6 October, to reports of a gas leak.

‘Officers are at the scene assisting London Fire Brigade with road closures.

‘Princes Street and Hanover Street have been evacuated as a precaution. Road closures are in place at Oxford Street, Regent Street and Great Marlborough Street.

‘Please avoid the area. Incident ongoing.’

 

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These included Ludgate Hill from Ludgate Circus, New Change, New Bailey, Warwick Lane from Newgate Street, Paternoster Square and Carter Lane.

A police spokesman said: ‘These closures will be in place for some time. Please find alternative routes where possible.’

PC Harry Rance tweeted a picture of a cordoned-off Ludgate Hill, saying: ‘Many roads around St Paul’s are closed due to a gas leak. Please avoid the area.’ 

The LFB said: ‘Firefighters have been called to reports of a gas leak at a restaurant and office block on St Paul’s Churchyard. A gas main is leaking into a basement.

‘Around 50 people have been evacuated from St Paul’s Cathedral and around 200 people have been evacuated from commercial premises in the area.

‘A 25-metre cordon is in place as a precaution. The Brigade was called at 1.20pm. Two fire engines, two fire rescue units and support vehicles are at the scene.

A St Paul’s Cathedral spokesman said: ‘On October 6, St Paul’s Cathedral and the surrounding area is currently closed to the public due to a gas leak.

#’he Cathedral is closed for sightseeing and services for the remainder of today, October 6. City of London Police and the London Fire Brigade are at the scene.

‘Ticket holders for October 6 can use their ticket any day this week until October 10 or reschedule their ticket for a later date.’ 

A cathedral dedicated to St Paul has been located at the City’s highest point for more than 1,400 years, with the current building at least the fourth to have stood on the site.

The present cathedral was the masterpiece of architect Sir Christopher Wren, built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

It was the first cathedral to be built after the English Reformation in the 16th century when King Henry VIII removed the Church of England from the authority of the Pope.