DOZENS of people were evacuated from their homes on Sunday after a major gas leak at the controversial A31 Canford Bottom roundabout.

The alarm was raised around 9.45am on Sunday as eye-witnesses reported a huge “whooshing” sound of gas escaping from the large pipeline and an overpowering smell.

The pipe was damaged during work on the £5.7 million road scheme being carried out by the Highways Agency.

Around a dozen firefighters were called to the scene, along with a Dorset Fire and Rescue Service hazardous materials officer.

A gas worker said the main had been ruptured at the end of Ham Lane. Emergency services officials put a 200-metre cordon in place.

The Canford Bottom roundabout and the roads feeding it were closed off, forcing traffic from all directions to find alternative routes.

The sound of escaping gas at the scene was so loud, people had to shout around Ham Lane, until the pressure was turned down to assist with repairs.

Between 50-60 residents left their homes, around half a dozen of them went to the Fox and Hounds pub off Ham Lane.

Arabella Cattermoule, 65, was brought to the pub by ambulance because she has the lung disease Emphysema.

She said: “I couldn’t have walked here on my own. The gas sounded like a truck pouring gravel – but it went on and on.”

The nearby Haskins garden centre was also designated as an evacuation point.

Jude Harvey of Fox Lane was evacuated and said: “The smell was unbelievable.

“You couldn’t talk to each other properly because of the noise – it terrified my dog.”

The north east wind blew the gas south of the A31, towards Canford Magna and Merley and residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution.

Adrian Bunce, 57, of Wimborne Road West said: “I noticed a police vehicle and started wandering towards the roundabout when a fire officer walked towards me and said to go back.”

Denis Kerby from Scotia Gas Networks said a 20-inch diameter medium pressure methane pipe had been hit.

He said: “The area was evacuated because of the risk of the gas getting into homes and igniting in a confined space.”

The gas supply was turned down to help with the repairs.

Residents of Canford Heath and Wimborne were told to expect problems with heating and other appliances into the early evening.

The leak was capped by Southern Gas just after 4pm and residents allowed home.

The road was due to reopen around 6pm.

The Highways Agency scheme is being undertaken ahead of the Olympics.

A spokesman for the agency saoid: “We will obviously be looking to see what caused this incident.”