A gardener caused a scare when he put a spade through a gas pipe.

It happened in Lower Denmark Road, South Ashford, at around 12.30pm today.

Firefighters were alerted and sealed the pipe with tape until gas engineers arrived to do repairs.

Watch manager Mike Blundred, from Ashford fire station, said: “The man put his spade through the gas pipe leading to his house while he was doing some gardening.

“We secured the scene and put tape round the pipe to prevent the gas from escaping and waited until someone from the gas company arrived.

“There was no need to evacuate anyone.”

Fire crews were at the house for around half-an-hour.