Water in gas pipes – N10

Engineers and support staff worked late into the night yesterday, to assess the extent of the water in the gas network in the N10 area of Muswell Hill, Friern Barnet and North Finchley.

This morning over 100 engineers and support staff will be in the area, to continue to safely switch off the gas supply to each affected property. Please do not try to do this yourself, unless you have been advised how to do so, by a member of staff from the National Gas Emergency Service.

Our engineers will have to visit every affected property first and make sure the water hasn't gone beyond the gas meter and to ensure the gas supply is switched off safely.

Our priority has been looking after the most vulnerable customers first and those on the Priority Services Register. If you think someone needs extra care and attention during this incident, please let us know at the customer centre we have set up at the Freehold Community Centre, 9 Alexandra Rd, London N10 2EY.

We know it may be tempting to use a lot of electricity, as you don't have gas to heat your homes or businesses, however, we ask that you are careful not to overload the electricity network. We don't want you being without gas and electricity. We are working closely with the local electricity company to ensure the electricity network is not being overloaded. We would advise heating one room of a property and not putting different electrical appliances on, all at the same time.

Affinity Water has repaired their broken water pipe and Cadent has repaired its damaged gas pipe to ensure no more water enters the gas network.

The aim for today will be to safely turn off the gas supplies to each of the affected properties and to also start pumping water out of the gas network. This will take some time. We ask that people are patient with our engineers at this time.

We won't be able to restore gas until the water has been pumped out of the gas network.

We will keep you posted of progress throughout the day.

We have mobilised engineers to N10 and surrounding areas after water flooded into the local gas pipes. You may know there was a burst water main and we have lots of water within the local gas network.

While the water leak has now been stopped, there is a large volume of water in our pipes. This unfortunately means some homes and businesses are without gas. Our teams arrived in the area this morning to begin what is going to be a big task to remove all this water from the gas mains.

We must remove every drop from the outside gas mains, as well as the pipes that go into each property, gas meters, boilers and appliances. This is both for safety and to remove risk of gas going off again due to water blocking the flow.

We first need to turn off supply at every impacted property, then remove all the water that flooded in, and only then can we safely reintroduce gas to the network. We will need to make a return visit to every property to turn supply back on and check everything is working okay.

We promise we’ll work as fast as we safely can and maintain a big presence in the area.

Important information about turning off supply at your property

Our engineers are already going door-to-door to turn off the gas supply. We will need access to your property, so if you are able to stay in today that would be a major help or, if you need to go out, perhaps leave a key with a neighbour.

When one of our engineers arrives at your door they will always show you their identification card. We will do our best to tell you in advance that someone is coming to visit, but that's not always possible - gas emergencies and other critical work may lead them to your door unannounced. However, our engineers do not head off to work without their identification card, so they will always show it to you. Our engineers will not be offended if you close the door and call us to check they are who they claim to be. They are happy to wait on the doorstep until you are happy to let them in.

Helping you keep warm and to have access hot food

We know this is difficult and not nice to be without gas. While we will of course help everyone we possibly can, our first focus is those customers in vulnerable situations, including those who are on the Priority Services Register.

We are setting up a dedicated customer support team in the local area at Freehold Community Centre, 9 Alexandra Rd, London N10 2EY. This will open tomorrow morning (Monday 13 January) between 9am and 8pm. Our team will be on site to help and support you where we can, as well as answer your questions. We will liaise with the local authority as we make plans for longer term options.

Finchley Lido Leisure Centre – based in Great North Leisure Park, High Rd, London N12 0GL - has kindly offered residents the use of their showering facilities during their normal opening times from tomorrow (Monday 13 January). Please take proof of address with you to use the facilities.

If you smell gas – call 0800 111 999* immediately.

If you smell gas, call the national gas emergency number of 0800 111 999 immediately. Do not delay calling and don't assume it's our works.

*All calls to this number are recorded and may be monitored.

We are gathering more information and will provide further updates soon.