by Alan Irving

Last updated at 11:34, Wednesday, 12 September 2012

STAFF were evacuated from the West Cumberland Hospital after fears of a gas leak.

Hospital: No gas leak

Firefighters from Whitehaven, Workington and Egremont were alerted after reports of a strong smell of what was thought to be escaping gas.

Staff were taken to safety from the accommodation hostel and the hospital’s adjoining education centre.

No one was affected and as the block is well away from wards no patients had to be moved.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service station manager Kevin Bethwaite said: “We put in place a wide cordon and evacuated buildings in and around the affected areas making sure everyone in the accommodation was accounted for.”

Because of the strong smell, engineers isolated the gas supply carrying out tests and sampling. However there was apparently no gas leak.

Alan Davidson, director of estates and facilities for North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust, said: “Northern Gas Network has carried out a thorough investigation on the site and has not found a gas leak.

“The trust is now working with contractors to carry out further tests.”

First published at 11:27, Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk