MORE than 100 residents were evacuated from their homes in Clifton this morning after a gas main was apparently cut and set alight.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were sent to homes around the Upper Newborough Street area after an officer on routine patrol discovered the affected gas main shortly before 4.30am. They began evacuating residents from the road and, it is believed, from Shipton Street, Baker Street, Field Road and Haughton Road.

It is estimated that at least 150 residents were ordered to immediately leave their homes. While many wanted to stay near their houses police arranged for St Peter’s School and the York Burton Lane working men’s club and St Luke's Church to be opened to give warmth and shelter, particularly to the young and the elderly. Residents with difficulty walking were offered lifts by the police.

At just after 6am nearly all residents were finally allowed to return to their homes.

Press sports reporter and Upper Newborough Street resident Steve Carroll said: “We heard sirens and banging on the door first, we thought someone was being raided. Then more bangs, it was obvious it was more than one door and my wife Kathryn opened the window and an officer said there had been a serious gas leak at the end of the street and we all had to get out.

“They evacuated our entire street and surrounding streets and we were all standing around, many in their pyjamas, as police cars, fire engines and ambulances continued to turn up.

“One police officer told residents the gas main had cut and been set alight.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed that a gas main had been "cut and set alight".

She said: "The incident is ongoing, a 200m area around the affected area has been evacuated and we have been working with various venues to provide shelter for those asked to leave their homes."