NEARLY 40 elderly residents were evacuated from a care home after a gas leak.

Staff at East Green Home, in West Auckland, County Durham, smelled gas on Thursday afternoon, resulting in all 36 residents needing alternative accommodation.

It is hoped they will be able to return to the Durham County Council-run residential home today, following repair work.

Transco was called on Thursday after the gas was detected, and officials found the leak.

The fault meant that there was no heating and no means of providing hot food for at least two days so, after consultation with the residents' families, it was decided to move them.

Some have been staying with local residents, while others have been transferred to nearby care homes.

Durham County Council's corporate director of adult and community services, Rachael Shimmin, said: "Moving residents is a big step to take, but we transferred them to local homes and made sure there was as little inconvenience as possible.

"The job has been repaired and we would expect that the whole process will be completed by teatime."

Almost half of the residents have been housed at the 40-bedroom Chilton Care Centre.

The £1.8m centre is owned by Guardian Care Homes UK, whose operations director, Elaine Reay, said: "The home has only been open since August, so we were able to look after 16 people.

"Obviously, they were upset by all the upheaval, but we made them feel at home and they soon settled in. We were delighted to be able to help."

West Auckland Parish Council had planned to deliver a Christmas hamper to the home yesterday, but will instead call tomorrow.