SHOPS and offices in the centre of Canterbury resumed business as usual today following a major gas alert. Hundreds of shoppers were evacuated yesterday afternoon after a four-inch gas main at the old multi-storey car park was ruptured.

Within 15 minutes of police being alerted, all nearby shops were emptied of customers.

There was a strong smell of gas in the High Street and in stores near the area which was still sealed off. A 50m exclusion area from the site was set up and a further 100m zone from stores with big glass frontages in case of explosions.

Crowds of people remained and watched the incident which is thought to have been caused by a contractor. Watling Street, St George's Street, Rose Lane, and the Marlowe Arcade were all closed off. Affected stores included the Bank of Scotland, BhS, Marks & Spencer, Burton, Waterstone's, and Ricemans.

Assistant manager at Waterstone's, Annoushka Hardy, said the evacuation was carried out calmly.

Canterbury Fire Station's deputy station commander Richard Willingham said: "The danger was glass. If there was an explosion even though it was likely to be quite localised the danger was that there would be flying glass everywhere."

Ch Insp Peter West said that there was an element of alarm during evacuations in the present climate. However Sgt David Collinson said the evacuations were orderly and panic-free. Transco were on site to cap off the mains and roads were reopened during the evening.