ENGINEERS worked through the night to repair a gas leak which closed a major road.

The A48 was shut to traffic between Lydney near Viney Hill and Blakeney from shortly after 2pm last Friday (December 6) after reports of a leak from a gas pipe outside a property.

Darryl Goddard, Wales & West Utilities senior operational manager for Lydney, said: “We have been working along the A48 near Viney Hill in Lydney to repair a leak on a gas pipe running beneath the road. 

“Our engineers work- ed nonstop through the night and have now made a temporary repair.

“As a precaution and in order to keep road users and our colleagues safe while we worked, yesterday, the emergency services closed a section of the A48 in both directions at its junction with Viney Hill.

“The road has now been fully reopened.

“This was a complex job, and we will need to continue working in the area over the next few days to make a permanent repair.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we do not expect to need to close the road to complete this work.

“We would like to thank the public for its patience while we completed this essential work.

“We appreciate that working on roads such as this is not ideal, but it was important that we fix this leak now, in order to continue to provide a safe and reliable supply of gas to homes and businesses,” he added.

A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “GFRS were called at 2.20pm by the police to reports of a gas leak outside a property on the A48.”