A company could be facing a £10million bill for a blunder which left up to 2,000 residents without gas.

Lovell, the housebuilders behind phase two of the £23million Five Links regeneration initiative at Laindon, admitted one of its sub-contractors ruptured the gas and water mains supplying the homes.

Six days later, the crisis, which affected 835 homes in Brendons and Somercotes, Little Lullaway, Laindon Link and Great Knightleys, showed signs of improvement, with 294 properties having gas restored.

Utility company Transco was optimistic a further 300 homes would be reconnected today, though workers needed locksmiths to get into 54 households whose occupants were on holiday.

Kevin Farrington, of the Cleansing Services Group, who has been working with Transco to remove the water from the gas pipes, said: "I dealt with a similar situation in Kent, where only 350 houses were affected and the company responsible had to pay out £2.5million in damage.

"That time the incident was straightforward as Transco was dealing with four-and-a-half-inch gas mains. This time Transco is dealing with 12inch gas mains, which means three times the quantity of water.

"I estimate it will cost Lovell more than £10million. It may be able to pay most of it out of insurance and the rest out of its own pocket."

The firm is working with Basildon Community Housing Association, Basildon Council and English Partnerships. It said a full investigation was under way but refused to confirm the possible cost of the blunder.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm a gas and water main were ruptured by one of our sub-contractors. "We regret this has caused major inconvenience to residents."

Published Wednesday April 14, 2004

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