Around 50 homes have been evacuated in Jersey while gas engineers investigate a potential leak.

Emergency services and technicians from Island Energy are dealing with the incident in the Le Squez area of St Clement.

A gas smell was first reported by a member of the public on Saturday afternoon.

Residents from Le Clos Mourant were evacuated to a nearby social club while the area is tested and any necessary repairs are carried out.

In a statement, an Island Energy spokesperson said: "Islanders may be aware that our gas engineers have been called to Le Clos Mourant in St Clement, following a publicly-reported smell of gas.

"Island Energy has a very strict policy and procedure in the event of a gas escape, and when we are called to attend, we use highly sensitive gas detection equipment, and follow a thorough process checking and monitoring the inside and outside of properties within the vicinity. Our engineers are currently on-site and working to locate, and repair the gas escape. The evacuation of homes and properties in the vicinity is precautionary, and again is best practice in these situations.

"We would like to thank the residents of the area for their understanding and co-operation and reassure them we are doing everything possible to get them back into their homes as quickly as possible."

Jersey Fire & Rescue later confirmed the evacuation was “standard practice” and re-assured nearby residents there was no need for anyone else to be evacuated.

Andium Homes, which manages the Clos Mourant estate, confirmed residents from one of the blocks had been evacuated and clarified the suspected gas leak was from a gas pipe beneath a nearby road.

A spokesperson said: “The homes that have been evacuated have only recently been constructed and this development has never had any gas infrastructure in it. None of the residents use gas for cooking or heating.

"It is believed that the leak has occurred on a nearby Island Energy gas pipe situated beneath Le Squez Road, which passes by the apartment block.

"Andium would like to thank the emergency services and the Good Companions Club for their hospitality. Andium staff will stay with residents until they are allowed back in their homes."

An update issued by the government just before 10pm said: “During their investigations at Le Clos Mourant, a pocket of gas was detected by Island Energy engineers in a service duct.

”This build-up has now been vented and purged with air and the gas readings inside the building are zero.

“However, the source of the leak has not yet been found and Island Energy will remain on scene to continue to monitor gas levels until it is.

”All properties at risk have been evacuated. If neighbours have not been evacuated from their homes, it is not believed they are at risk.

”There is no immediate concern for residents, however, to avoid undue anxiety hotel rooms are being provided by Government for those affected until the leak is repaired.”

At 9:20am the following morning, Jersey Fire and Rescue gave an update confirming the gas leak had been located and the affected pipe repaired.

However, some "small pockets of residual gas" were still present, so residents evacuated are not yet able to return home.

Andium Homes said it continues to support displaced residents:

“We have a team who will be at the Ambassador Hotel this morning and would like to encourage residents to contact Andium colleagues there, and we will offer any assistance necessary.

“We will also be visiting all residents at home once they have returned home.

”We do want to make it clear that the Le Clos Mourant buildings do not have mains gas going into them and we are already speaking to Island Energy and others to understand how gas can have been detected in that area.”