A GAS leak has forced the closure of a busy Oswestry street.

Church Street has been cordoned off and people have been moved from the area.

Shropshire Fire Service was made aware of the issue at around 8.30am on Monday.

Businesses including Booka Bookshop, Natwest and Lawrence Direct have all been unable to open or forced to close until the issue is resolved.

Malcolm Stevenson, corporate communications officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We received reports of smells of gas coming from the pavement between the Natwest bank and William Hill.

"Police and fire services are at the street now and utility companies will be in attendance to resolve the problem."

A police officer at the scene said: "The street has been closed for over an hour now and we're unsure at this point when it will be re-opened."

The street was re-opened by early afternoon. 

Hayley Edwards of Park Gate Florist said: "Our shop hasn't been affected by the problem but we could see shops further down the street had been evacuated.

"It seems to have affected a lot of shops down there."