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Residents evacuated after car crashes into flats in Burntwood

Residents had to be evacuated from a block of flats after a car crashed into the building causing a gas leak.

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Merton Court

The estate car careered into Merton Court in Burntwood around 9.50am this morning.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent two crews to the scene and urged all of the residents to leave. They were taken to Chasetown Police Station while the gas leak was fixed.

Queens Fish Bar next door also closed for the morning and police stopped traffic on Queens Street while the incident was ongoing.

The driver of the car was an elderly man who was uninjured and discharged at the scene by paramedics.

West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed none of the residents at Merton Court required assessment.

The gas leak was resolved by 1pm and residents were able to return to the property.

Barry Haralambous who runs the chip shop said: "We had to close the chip shop in the morning while the gas was turned off but we were able to open again in the afternoon.

"The car did not go into our building and there was no real damage to the block of flats next door."

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We were called to an incident where an estate car was involved in a collision with a building.

"We evacuated Merton Court as there was a strong smell of gas in the area.

"The hatchback had come into contact with a gas main.

"The residents of Merton Court were evacuated to Chasetown police station for welfare reasons.

"We sent a crew from the Chase and one from Cannock. They left at 12.55pm."