GAS contractors are battling to make sure parts of a village left without gas for more than a week are re-connected today.

Takeaways, pubs and restaurants in Headcorn High Street were forced to close, or offer reduced menus, from Thursday last week, when contractors laying new gas mains accidentally bored into a water pipe, causing a flood.

The accident also affected nearby homes.

Gas supplies were restored to most High Street premises by Wednesday afternoon and businesses are looking into some sort of compensation for the loss of trade.

This afternoon, Sharon Miller McKenzie, a spokesman for Southern Gas Networks, said only around 40 properties were still without gas. She expected these homes to be reconnected by the end of the day.

She added: "Our engineers have been working round the clock to restore supplies, but before a home can be connected a safety check needs to be carried out.

"That means some homes are still without gas as we need to be able to get in to make the checks."

Any homeowner who has received a card from Southern Gas Networks should ring the number to arrange the safety check.

Ms Miller McKenzie added: "People still without gas are also welcome to approach our engineers who are on site.

"We would like to thank the people of Headcorn for their support and patience, while we have pumped the £100,000 litres of water out of the gas supply."