THE Highways Agency has apologised to residents evacuated following a major gas leak at Canford Bottom roundabout on Sunday.

Dozens of people had to leave their homes after contractors on the junction’s £5.7million project damaged a gas pipe.

The A31 and all local roads were closed onto the roundabout and a 200m exclusion zone was set up, due to fears of an explosion.

A Highways Agency spokesperson said sub-contractors excavating for a sewer diversion had caused the eight-hour drama. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused to residents by an incident at the Canford Bottom roundabout on Sunday in which a gas pipe was damaged,” she said.

She added: “Our priority was to work with the gas supply company and emergency services to repair the gas pipe so that affected residents could return to their homes as soon as possible.

“We are reviewing our procedures to minimise the risk of this type of incident occurring again.

“The incident should not impact on the overall delivery of the scheme which will maximise capacity, and improve traffic flow and safety at the junction.”

Residents should not be experiencing problems with heating or the gas supply, a spokesman for Southern Gas Networks said on Monday.

People sheltered at the Fox and Hounds pub, off Ham Lane, and Haskins garden centre.

The Barrington Centre, in Ferndown, was also made available for evacuated residents.

'As bad as we had feared'

“THE actual reality is as bad as we had feared and so much more.” That’s the verdict on the impact of the Canford Bottom works from Cllr Janet Dover, for Colehill.

The County, District and Parish member, pictured, says 24 concerned residents rang her on Friday with complaints, just one day into the road closures. Ham Lane and Wimborne Road West’s Ferndown stretch are shut at the moment, to be joined by Canford Bottom and Wimborne Road West, on the Wimborne side, later this month.

Residents and traders are struggling with the eight mile diversions, Cllr Dover added, saying she had begged the Highways Agency to bring one of their meetings with businesses forward from Friday February 17, but it had not been possible.

“Traders are just so furious about customers not being able to get through,”

Cllr Dover said. “I’m so sympathetic with them.” Drivers being re-directed through Ferndown Industrial Estate is an inconvenience to businesses based there, she said.