Engineers are continuing to restore gas supplies to customers in the Helmsley, Nawton and Beadlam areas.

Supplies have now been reconnected to 251 of the 600 properties affected when part of a gas main collapsed at 4pm on Friday during routine repairs.

Repairs were completed at around 3pm yesterday enabling gas supplies to be restored.

Engineers must now visit customers to reconnect their properties.

Ian Cooper, Customer Operations support manager, Northern Gas Networks, said: “We need to carry out essential safety checks at every property before switching homes back on.

“We have brought in engineers from across the region and they are now going door-to-door to reconnect customers.

“If no one is home, we will leave a card, so please contact us as soon as you return.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused and thank customers for their patience and cooperation.”

An incident room and community drop-in facility remains open in the Methodist Church on Ashdale Road, Helmsley and a Customer Care Team is working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council and Ryedale District Council to provide support for residents.

"If anyone is unable to attend the church, they can contact the Customer Care Team, who will ensure they are supported in their own home.

“We continue to ask customers in the vicinity who have not lost supply to limit their own use of gas to prevent further loss of supply to themselves and their neighbours. This is a temporary measure until such time that our engineers can rectify the supply issues.

“We are also working with engineers from Northern Powergrid who are closely monitoring the local electricity network and any potential knock-on increases in demand while residents are without their gas supply.”

Contact the Customer Care Team on 0800 0407766 Option 2 if you believe you are vulnerable and our Customer Care Officers can provide you with support as quickly as possible.

Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.