DOZENS of people were evacuated from their homes after a gas leak in Swindon.

Police cordoned off an area around Archer's Brewery, in Penzance Drive, following the alert.

Two fire appliances and an aerial appliance from Westlea were called to the brewery on Saturday afternoon.

Engineers from gas maintenance firm Transco searched for the leak.

The flats opposite the Great Western Outlet Village were evacuated as a precaution until the situation was resolved.

Penzance Drive was closed to traffic between Paddington Drive and Rodbourne Road, and traffic was diverted away from the area.

The emergency services were called at 4pm.

Engineers fixed the leak within an hour and residents were allowed to return to their homes shortly afterwards.

A police spokesman said: "The flats were evacuated as a precaution. It is better to be safe than sorry in these situations. It may have been an inconvenience but it was for residents' safety."