A FUEL leak near a Christchurch petrol station caused rush hour delays earlier today.

Police put up roadblocks for five hours on Bridge Street, a main town centre road, after Wessex Water found the storm drains had been contaminated around 2pm.

Passers-by raised the alert after smelling fuel and a small amount of homes immediately nearby were evacuated.

Firefighters from Christchurch, with a specialist environmental team from Gillingham, used booms and absorbent material to stop most of the fuel getting into the River Stour.

They also opened the drains to prevent any build up of fumes from the ‘small but constant’ leak.

Cllr Colin Jamieson, Christchurch’s cabinet member for the environment, who was at the scene, said: “It’s not combustible fuel so it’s more likely to be diesel.”

The road was closed from the Ye Olde George Inn by the High Street to the junction with Stony Lane.

Traffic was heavy but not gridlocked, although drivers were stuck in cars on a hot day and businesses on the street were affected.

A worker at a deserted La Mamma Italian inside the cordon said: “We are not happy. Our business is suffering.”

Group manager Phil Allen from Dorset Fire and Rescue said: “It’s unfortunate people are delayed but public safety is our priority.”

He said the source of the leak had not yet been confirmed. Trading Standards closed the petrol station as a precaution. A man from the petrol station declined to comment.

The Environment Agency will now investigate and begin drilling soil samples.