Busy roads in Ludlow town centre have been closed due to a series of emergency works – leaving up to 120 homes without water.

A section of Weeping Cross Lane was closed on Monday after reports of a number of gas leaks, and contractors for National Grid Gas remained on site today repairing pipes under the road surface. And parts of nearby Old Street were cordoned off after a water hydrant started leaking on Monday.

Work was carried out to replace the hydrant yesterday and homes and businesses were left without a water supply for about 45 minutes while contractors worked on the scene.

It comes after a resident hit out at contractors working on behalf of Severn Trent Water amid claims noisy drilling work did not start until 8pm on Monday and Tuesday.

Rob Byrne, 45, who lives in Old Street, said that the Severn Trent work had been halted after complaints were made, but described the decision to start working late at night as ‘bewildering’.

He said: “Most of the businesses along the road are pubs, restaurants and fish and chip shops which would be affected more if their water supply was cut off late at night.

“Parts of the road and pavement were cordoned off during the day and traffic lights were in place but no work took place at all until about 8pm each night.

“They were due to have a look at the situation at midnight on Tuesday night only for the supervisor to change his mind after I spoke to them.”

Roger Clark, spokesman for Severn Trent Water, said: “We had hoped to use some technology to make sure we could replace the hydrant without cutting off supply but the job was too difficult.

“We told people on the road that we would be carrying out the work and about 120 properties were left without water for about 45 minutes.”

Jane Taylor is press spokeswoman for National Grid Gas.

She said: “We had reports of a gas escape and had to close part of the road on Monday.

“We have since found a number of leaks along the section and are still getting gas readings, and we will not be able to reopen the road until we have sorted this out.”