BUNGLING water contractors caused a major gas leak when they severed a gas main by mistake yesterday.

A major road was blocked, a nearby petrol station was closed for safety and residents were told to keep windows shut, following the incident on the A690 between Durham City and Langley Moor.

Northumbrian Water, which hired contractors from Fast Flow Pipeline Services, apologised for the error that also hit lunchtime business at the nearby Stonebridge pub.

Emergency services and Transco engineers sealed off the area for more than two hours as they worked to plug the leak.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: "We apologise on behalf of the contractors for any inconvenience caused.

"They were carrying out exploratory work to gather samples to determine what work was necessary to refurbish the network.

"They were looking for a 12in water main but at that depth pipes all look the same. Unfortunately, this is one of the hazards of the industry. It does happen from time to time."

Mark Charlton, manager of the Stonebridge pub, said: "This is the second gas leak in a week at the same spot. Fortunately, the first one happened in the middle of the night.