HOMES in a Hampshire village were evacuated last night after a crash caused a gas leak.

The emergency services were called to Sway Road in Brockenhurst after a vehicle careered into a hedge, damaging a gas pipe.

Firefighters rushed to the scene, with a relief crew from Burley turning out at 11.29pm and remaining at the scene until 4.30am.

Arrangements were made for villagers affected by the incident to stay at hotels in the area.

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said a 60-metre exclusion zone was put in place and homes evacuated.

They added: "Firefighters were on stand-by whilst gas engineers investigated.

"The stop message came in at 10.32am with the gas supply being isolated and the vehicle was removed.

"Residents have also been able to return to their homes."

A Hampshire police spokesperson added: "We were called to an incident at 7.56pm yesterday after reports of a single-vehicle traffic collision on Sway Road, Brockenhurst.

"A vehicle came off the road through a hedge and cracked a gas pipe – resulting in a number of homes in the near vicinity being evacuated by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"No injuries were reported."

Southern Gas Network added: "We've now completed the emergency repair on our gas network in Sway Road in Brockenhurst.

"The road will remain closed between Woodlands Road and the B3055 while we fill our excavations and restore the road surface.

"All being well, we'll reopen Sway Road by Thursday."