An urgent road closure has been put in place after a gas leak was discovered.
The southbound lanes of Queens Drive, near Townsend Avenue in Walton, have been cordoned off as emergency engineers work to repair the leak, which was found after a passer-by reported smelling gas in the area.
An assessment carried out by Cadent, which manages the city region’s gas network, earlier today determined that action was needed "immediately to ensure everyone is kept safe". The closure is expected to remain in place for several days.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman thinks jury were 'all born yesterday', prosecutor claims
In a statement, a company spokesman said: "Checks have been made of nearby buildings and Cadent is satisfied everyone is safe. But this urgent work must happen now to make sure it stays that way.
"The engineers will be working near Queens Drive’s junction with Townsend Avenue, and there will be a diversion route signposted."
Dale Martin, Cadent’s customer operations area manager for Liverpool, said: “We were first alerted to this by a member of the public reporting in a smell of gas. They did exactly the right thing – calling the national gas emergency service on 0800 111 999, so that it could be checked out by our teams.
“The leak is coming from a pipe that runs around three metres underneath Queens Drive, so we have no option but to close the lanes to work on this. We will have teams working round-the-clock, 24 hours, to get this repair completed as soon as we can.
“I would expect this will still take days though, given the scale of engineering and work that needs to take place. We know this is a busy road and trust that people understand we have to put safety above all considerations. We really do appreciate everyone’s patience while we get this work done.”
There should be no impact on the gas supply, they added.
If you smell gas during this work, nearby or anywhere, ring the national gas emergency service immediately, day or night, on 0800 111 999. Do not delay, or assume it’s related to this work. It may not be and must be checked.
READ NEXT
Mum's tribute to 'cheeky' son after his body found in woods
Royal Navy reveals why huge warship was docked in Liverpool
Woman, 21, who would 'light up a room' found dead in her flat
confirms exact date £301 cost of living payments will be paid
