Engineers have finally found and fixed a gas leak in Trowbridge town centre following seven weeks of searching.

In the process, the Wales & West Utilities workers dug up pavements in Roundstone Street and the road in Silver Street before finding the source of the leak.

The works have badly disrupted traffic in the area, and local shopkeepers have complained that it was affecting their businesses.

Dave Wyatt, of DW Money Services, said on Tuesday his trade had dropped off because customers were not coming into the area.

He said: "There is still a hole outside my shop. They were working on it this morning and it is still cordoned off.

"In fact, it's still a mess here now. They have washed down the pavement with water and everything is a mess here.

"Every time anybody walks into my shop, they are walking in with muddy feet but it is not too bad. I have just got to clean everything up."

Wiltshire Times: Dave Wyatt, of DW Money Services ion Roundstone Street, surveys the work outside his shop. Image: Trevor PorterDave Wyatt, of DW Money Services ion Roundstone Street, surveys the work outside his shop. Image: Trevor Porter (Image: Trevor Porter)

Alan Vickerstaff, Wales & West Utilities gas emergency service manager for Trowbridge, said on Tuesday: "We have been working in the Silver Street area of Trowbridge to locate and repair a leak on the gas pipe running beneath the road.

“In order to keep the local community, road users and our colleagues safe while we worked, a road closure along the bus and taxi route on Church Street was put in place.

“We’re pleased to say that we have fixed the leak and reopened the road.

Wiltshire Times: Wales & West Utilities engineers finally found and fixed the gas leak in Roundstone Street, Trowbridge, and have now reopened the road. Image: Trevor Porter 76836-2Wales & West Utilities engineers finally found and fixed the gas leak in Roundstone Street, Trowbridge, and have now reopened the road. Image: Trevor Porter 76836-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

"We are now finishing our work on the footpath, which, barring any unforeseen circumstances should be fully reopened tomorrow (February 28).

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of local residents and road users while we carried out this essential work.

“Whilst it was important that we fixed this leak now, it did not pose any serious safety concerns and there was no impact on local gas supplies.”

The engineers had been digging up pavements in the area since early January in their search for the leak, causing major headaches for pedestrians.

After failing to find it, they moved their search from the Silver Street/Roundstone Street junction further along the road to check whether the leak was in the mains pipe.

Eventually, they closed the road and started to dig, creating a huge hole on one of the main routes to the bus stops in Silver Street and taxi ranks in Market Street.