THIRTY residents were evacuated from their homes in Sandside overnight after a car crashed into a pub and fractured a gas main.

A 47-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a green Honda Accord hit the Ship Inn at about 2.36am.

Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the collision, which caused a large amount of gas to leak into the air and prompted fears of an explosion.

Police placed a 400-metre cordon around the scene and closed the B5282 between Milnthorpe and Arnside.

Officers evacuated people in nearby homes - many of them elderly - to a reception centre at Sandside Village Hall where they were able to stay warm and make hot drinks.

An engineer from gas company Transco also attended, along with a representative from South Lakeland District Council’s emergency planning team.

The gas leak was capped at about 7am, when the road was re-opened and residents allowed to return to their homes.

Nobody was hurt in the incident and the alleged drink-driver is due to be questioned at Kendal Police Station today.