Gas worker's efforts to help cut-off residents earn praise

Martin Kelly, from Barnes in Sunderland, works for United Utilities on behalf of Northern Gas Networks.

He usually covers emergency gas call-outs in the North East but offered to help out on the incident in Hanging Heaton and Shaw Cross – which is more than 100 miles from his home.

Last night, Mr Kelly paid tribute to the community for their resilience during the incident which occurred during some the cold snap.

The gas supply to about 450 properties was cut off on New Year's Eve when more than 8,000 litres of water got into a gas main.

Mr Kelly arrived early on New Year's Day, joining dozens of engineers working on the incident. It took a week for engineers to remove all the water from the pipes, leaving many without gas for several days.

He put in 12-hour shifts for six days straight and battled through heavy snow to get people back on gas as quickly as possible.

Mr Kelly said: "It was a tough job in some of the worst weather we have ever worked in, but whenever the lads felt like a grumble we just thought about all those people without gas and that spurred us on.

"Everyone was so kind to us and we were all amazed by the community spirit and can-do attitude of the people there."

Once in the gas main, the water travelled to low points and created a number of blockages. Supplies could not be restored until every last drop of water had been removed.

"The ladies who ran the drop-in centre on the Shaw Cross estate were amazing, they looked after everyone, making endless cups of tea, rounds of toast and keeping morale up with a bit of banter and good cheer," Mr Kelly added.

United Utilities chief Gordon Thompson said: "Everyone who worked on this incident deserves to be recognised for their commitment and hard work.

"From the men working outside in sub-zero temperatures digging the excavations to the engineers who reconnected the gas supplies – everyone played an important role.

"It's thanks to guys like Martin who volunteered to work over the New Year that we were able to get everyone back on gas as quickly as we did."