Cannock roads open again after Orbital gas leak drama

Emergency services were called to Orbital Retail Park in Cannock last night.

The crash, which involved a red BMW three series, happened at around 7.10pm.

Police sealed off the entrance and exits to the retail park, which has businesses including a KFC restaurant. A 300-metre exclusion zone was put in place around the site and staff from the businesses were evacuated.

People were warned to stay away from the Orbital Retail Park in Cannock and diversions were put in place for motorists. National Grid spokeswoman Jane Taylor said: "The car left the road and hit one of our stations. It was a fibre glass case with pressure equipment inside. It did damage the station, but not badly. We went out to the scene at around 7.30pm and we were there just gone midnight.

"We stopped the gas and made temporary repairs. We have an engineer going there this morning to make permanent repairs. We will not have to close the roads while we carry out the repairs so there will be no traffic disruption.

"No supplies were affected last night." West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to the scene but no-one needed treatment. Firefighters from Cannock and Penkridge fire stations were also called to the retail park.

A man from Brownhills who was believed to be driving the car was arrested last night on suspicion of failing to stop after an accident. He has now been released by police and ordered to attend court at a later date.

Some residents reported smelling gas in the area.Liz Parker wrote on Staffordshire Police's Facebook page: "We left my mom's at about that time and thought we could smell gas as we drove down Newlands Lane."

Emergency services remained at the scene until 12.40am today. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.