A busy road through Newmarket which was closed because of a major gas leak opened later in the evening.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Exning Road are was like a ghost town Picture: RUSSELL COOKThe Exning Road are was like a ghost town Picture: RUSSELL COOK (Image: Archant)

The drama unfolded on Tuesday when the emergency services were called to the scene in Exning Road, near the Newmarket Motor Company, on Tuesday, just after 10am, with people being urged to avoid the area and those living near the site told to shut their windows and doors.

A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up and the road was shut between St Phillips Road and Freshfields until 6pm.

A spokesman from Cadent Gas Network, who were called to deal with the leak, said: “The few properties who were evacuated as a safety precaution were allowed back into their properties.

“Our engineers remained on site to complete the repair to the gas pipe.

“No gas supplies have been impacted by this incident.

“We would like to thank the emergency services and the local community for their patience whilst we dealt with this incident.”