ELDERLY neighbours were left without gas in one of the coldest snaps of the year after being told it was turned off for mains work.

Angry residents of Lingmell Avenue, Clinkham Wood, were left to cope without central heating and gas fires on Tuesday because National Grid were fitting new pipes to the street in the freezing December temperatures.

Bill Bradburn said: “This is totally beyond the realms of fantasy. I’m 63 and I’m probably the youngest resident in the avenue. My next-door neighbour is using crutches to get about.

“Who in their right minds would proceed with jobs like this in the middle of winter?”

Residents had been given details three months ago that work would be taking place at some point in the future on the street to fit new pipes.

Workmen arrived last Thursday to start the work.

On Friday morning notices were put through residents’ doors informing them the gas supply would be switched off.

“The letter says our pipe laying team will need access to your property from 8am throughout the day until 8pm,” added Bill. “That means they could be coming in and out all day. They also may have to change the position of the gas metre. They turned the gas supply to my next door neighbour’s property off a couple of times last Thursday without warning.”

The letter said alternative heating and cooking arrangements could be made for the elderly or those with young children.

But residents did not want to have to make those arrangements and instead asked for a more common sense approach to works like these.

Bill said: “We did not want this, this is just thoughtless planning. They probably thought we would just grin and bare it, but there is no way we would.

“When the gas is turned off the temperature drops like a brick in minutes.”

A National Grid spokeswoman said: “We send our apologies to people. Our work in St Helens and across the north west does cause inconvenience does cause to people.

“In this case we knocked on doors and offered alternative heaters and warm (cooking) plates to all residents who were without gas from 9am until 4pm.

“We are replacing gas pipes with modern plastic piping that we hope will last for 80 years.

“It is a short term disruption so the new pipes will last for many years. The work does need to go ahead as we have a massive programme of gas mains need replacing.

“We have a mandatory requirement by the Health and Safety Executive and have to work in all weathers.”