A GAS leak shut down the West End yesterday (Thursday) with dozens evacuated from Covent Garden.

Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square were on lockdown in what is the third major leak in Westminster this year.

More than 200 people were moved out of their homes for a night after a leak in Horseferry Road in January, and offices in the Strand were evacuated two weeks later.

Cadent Gas said of yesterday that it was “working to locate and repair the gas escape as soon as possible”.