FIREFIGHTERS and National Grid were called to Catshill after reports of a gas leak in Westfields.

A fire crew from Bromsgrove rushed to the scene at 11.24am on Wednesday, July 20 and stood by awaiting the arrival of National Grid staff.

Workers found the gas service pipe, which takes gas from the main in the road to the meter, to be damaged, allowing gas to escape.

It is believed this could have happened while work was being done in the area, or during digging in the garden.

National Grid worked for nearly seven hours to stem the leak and install a new service pipe.

A spokesperson for National Grid said: "Particularly during this weather, when people are outside in their gardens, if they are doing any digging it is good to know where their gas service pipe is.

"It is a common problem that people can accidentally put a fork through it."