A THURROCK main road was closed this afternoon while workers dealt with a gas leak, but it was reopened by 5pm.

The A1013 (Stanford Road) at its junction with the Orsett Cock roundabout was completely closed for a period of time after 3pm.

No police were at the scene but large lorries blocked the road to protect workers, with traffic coming from Stanford-le-Hope and the east having to do a U-turn, many using the Orsett Fire Station frontage to do it.

Motorists were somewhat frustrated as many had just negotiated queues at the Buckingham Hill Road lights to carry on westward along the A1013 only to have to turn round and then use the road to Linford at the lights as their diversion or got all the way back to the Manorway and the A13.

Engineers from gas company Cadent are currently carrying out works to repair a leak at the Buckingham Hill junction as well. See story

A statement at 3.30 from Cadent, which is dealing with the leak, said: "Our engineers are currently there dealing with a gas escape. We'll do all to can to resolve the situation as soon as possible."

At 5pm they contacted us again to say: "Repair completed and roundabout reopened."