AROUND 1,200 homes and businesses in Lytchett Matravers have been left without gas after the supply lost pressure on Sunday morning.

The supply went off just before lunchtime and villagers were handed electric cookers and heaters at the village hall.

Southern Gas Networks say the fault in the gas main that that affected 1,200 homes and businesses has been rectified, although engineers are still investigating the cause.

Jim Stark, general manager for Southern Gas Network said: “As a failsafe we have got to shut the gas off to each person.”

Approximately 80 engineers from all over the south of England were working in the village today, visiting each home and business to turn off the gas, logging it and returning later to turn it back on.

Meanwhile electric fan heaters to keep warm and double hotplates to heat food were being given out to residents at the village hall, with 800 handed out by mid-morning.

Lytchett Matravers Primary School have urged pupils to wear an extra layer today due to the lack of heating.

A message on their Facebook page said: "Important message. The village is currently having some issues with the gas supply and therefore the school is currently having heating problems.

"School will be open but heating may not be restored immediately.

"Therefore could you please ensure children have school jumpers and we advise an extra layer of clothing (vest etc).

"Feel free to include an extra jumper or fleece.

"We apologise for the slight inconvenience."

Up to 60 Southern Gas Networks staff and engineers were visiting on Sunday to speak to residents and work on the fault.

One villager, who asked not to be named, said: “We’ve been told there’s liquid in the gas supply and it could take ages to fix.

“It started in the morning and has affected the whole village.”

Anne Neilson, from Southern Gas Networks, said on Sunday the village hall is being used as an “incident centre”.

She said: “We’ve got a loss of supply today.

“It appears that one of the pieces of equipment that sources the village has failed and we have lost supply to the village, which is around 630 customers.

“We’ve set up the incident centre in the village hall in the high street and have engineers on site.

“Electric cookers and heaters are being handed out to vulnerable customers.

The engineers are visiting every property to turn the gas off at each meter.”

Mrs Neilson added: “We are working on the equipment at the same time.

“Once we have everyone safely turned off we will be able to reintroduce gas and then revisit all the properties again.”

The problem is expected to be fixed on Monday or Tuesday at the latest, she added.

Purbeck District Councillor Peter Webb’s home was not affected but he was on his way to his daughter’s house where they have lost their central heating.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s happened and it’s a great inconvenience for everyone,” he said.