THE gas supply has now been restored to all residents of Lytchett Matravers.

Southern Gas Networks said it was due to the “fantastic efforts” of their engineers, who had worked since the supply was cut on Sunday lunchtime to sort out the problem and restore the supply to around 1,200 properties.

At the height of the work around 80 engineers and staff were involved with the major incident that saw the entire village's gas supply cut off.

Earlier this morning, more than 75 per cent of properties in Lytchett Matravers were back on but 300 people were still without gas.

Southern Gas Network said engineers began visiting the remaining 300 homes this morning to reconnect supplies and were hoping to restore gas to all affected properties by lunchtime today.

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

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

On Monday, 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 on Monday, 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 urged pupils to wear an extra layer due to the lack of heating.