Gas engineers have been at Hatfield’s Queensway House since 11.30 this morning after a gas leak was reported.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Cadent gas workers have been attending a gas leak for most of the day at Queensway House, Hatfield. Picture: Dee Chessum.Cadent gas workers have been attending a gas leak for most of the day at Queensway House, Hatfield. Picture: Dee Chessum. (Image: Archant)

A Cadent spokesperson said: “We got a call out earlier today to a smell of gas. We traced it to a gas riser in a bathroom on the top floor.

“We managed to expose the pipe which was in the fabric of the building, repair the leak and we now need to do some last measures to reinstate fixtures.”

The leak, which Cadent says was in a vacant flat, was fixed by 8pm.

During the work, some of the residents left the building out of caution.

“Tenants are concerned, very concerned,” said eyewitness Dee Chessum, who is a spokesperson for many of the residents.

Dee said at least eight gas vans attended the call-out.

The Cadent spokesperson assured the Welwyn Hatfield Times that the building is now safe.

Although firefighters were also in the building for much of the day, this is unconnected to the suspected gas leak.

They were conducting an operational familiarisation with the building as a routine response to the lift being decommissioned on December 20.

The Cadent spokesperson urged readers to call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 if they smell gas.