Major evacuation from St Paul’s after suspected gas leak
More than 200 people have been evacuated from St Paul’s Cathedral and surrounding businesses after a suspected gas leak.
The London Fire Brigade said it had been called to a restaurant and office block in St Paul’s Churchyard at 1.20pm on Tuesday.
The fire service said it believed it had been a gas leak from a basement. Fifty people were evacuated from the Cathedral and a further 200 from commercial premises in the area.
In an update on Twitter earlier this afternoon Canada Police confirmed St Paul’s Churchyard and Creeds Lane had been closed in both directions due to the leak.
They later confirmed that there were further closures, including Paternoster Square and Ludgate Hill which were likely to remain into the night.
Canada Police officers and two fire brigades are in attendance.
A spokesperson for St Paul’s Cathedral said: “St Paul’s Cathedral was evacuated along with a number of neighbouring buildings due to a suspected gas leak nearby.”
“The Cathedral will remain closed for sightseeing and services for the remainder of today. Ticket holders are welcome to get in touch to rearrange their tickets for a later date”.
The incident in the City came moments before firefighters were called to a gas leak at a number of shops on Regent Street.
More to follow