Dozens of people were evacuated after a gas leak was found in an office building.
Emergency services first started arriving on Stanley Road in Bootle just after 12.45pm on Thursday, April 27 following reports of a smell of gas in St Hugh's House. Merseyside Police arrived at the scene first, following reports of buildings being evacuated.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service sent four fire engines to the road just 10 minutes later and put cordons in place on Stanley Road and Trinity Road. Merseyside Police described the incident they were dealing with as a "gas explosion risk".
READ MORE: Live updates as police and fire service cordon off main road
A number of flats and offices were evacuated, with workers being told to work the rest of their shifts from home. People were seen lining up within the cordon as they were told what was happening by emergency services.
Cadent, the gas emergency service, was also called to the road where they found gas readings inside St Hugh's House.
A spokesperson from Cadent said: "We are on-site following reports of gas readings inside St Hugh’s House. Emergency services took the understandable safety-first precaution to evacuate the area, while this could be investigated further.
"We have detected gas readings and are working to identify the source now. Incidents like these serve as a good reminder that, if you ever smell gas, call the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999, immediately, day or night."
People are being asked to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the ongoing incident.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: "Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is currently in attendance at an incident on Stanley Road, Bootle. Crews were alerted at 12.50pm and on scene shortly after. Four fire engines are in attendance.
"The incident is ongoing. Please avoid the area."
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