Gas leak in London: Charing Cross and Waterloo stations closed and over 1,400 evacuated from hotels and nightclub due to burst gas main

Two major railway stations were closed and 1,450 people were evacuated from a nightclub and hotel after a gas main ruptured in central London.

Charing Cross and Waterloo stations remained shut off into rush-hour this morning amid emergency work to isolate and fix the leak.

More than 1,000 people were ordered to leave Heaven nightclub near the Strand, plus around 400 people from other buildings in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Guests from central London hotels were seen milling around the streets in their dressing gowns. Nightclub revellers spilled out onto the street.

The Strand, a major route through central London, was closed and a 150m cordon put in place while National Grid engineers tried to isolate the leak.

Frustrated workers based in buildings along the road were left waiting to hear whether they had made wasted journeys into central London.

The two major stations were shut, with services diverted into Victoria, Cannon Street and Blackfriars.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We will reopen these stations as soon as we have clearance from emergency services that it is safe to do so.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience caused."

The station closures are also affecting the Bakerloo and Northern line Tube services. Passengers are advised to plan ahead.

Westminster City Council said a respite centre was opened at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria.

"More than 1,000 people from the Heaven night club and 350 residents and business personnel were evacuated," a spokesman said.

Nickie Aiken, leader of Westminster City Council, tweeted: "Talking to our emergency team dealing with Craven Street gas leak. Queen Mother leisure centre opened to help residents and we'll provide whatever help needed for residents, businesses and visitors"

High levels of natural gas were detected at Craven Street, near Charing Cross station, London Fire Brigade said.

A spokesman added: "We are assisting police on the Strand after a ruptured gas main was discovered using detection equipment and high levels of natural gas were detected in the atmosphere.

"As a precaution, approximately 1,450 people have been evacuated. They are from a hotel and a night club.

"The Strand is completely closed and we are asking people to avoid the area.

"We do not know the cause of the gas leak at this stage. It is ongoing and engineers are down at the scene trying to isolate the leak.

"There are still high readings of natural gas in the area. We are working to sort it out as quickly as possible."

Officials are not able to say when the gas will be secured and the roads and stations reopened.

Witnesses at Heaven nightclub in Villiers Street described "chaos" as people tried to leave "as fast as possible".