A MAJOR scare was sparked when gas and petrol fumes seeped into around 100 homes in Worcester.

Firefighters took dozens of warning calls in the Diglis area, last night, as the fumes rose from lavatory pipes.

Two crews attended several calls before switching their investigation to manholes, in an attempt to track the source of the problem underground.

Fire brigade spokesman Alec Mackie said the incident was treated extremely seriously.

"Wherever you have petrol fumes and gases, then a naked flame has the potential to cause major problems," he added.

Transco officials joined the fire crews and were followed by the Environment Agency, environmental health officers, the police and Severn Trent in the hunt.

This morning, Severn Trent confirmed that a leak from a disused Shell petrol station, in Bath Road, had infiltrated the foul sewer leading from the nearby Waverley Street pumping station.

The leak - which affected homes in Bath Road, Berwick Street, Cavendish Street and Orchard Street - has been isolated and the pollution will gradually subside.

"As soon as I came home from work the smell hit me," said Jim Staunton, of Cavendish Street.

"I went into the shower room and it seemed to be coming up through the pipes in the toilet. It was really worrying.

"Fortunately none of us smokes, but I don't know what would have happened if we did. It was a potential environmental disaster."

A liaison point for the operation - near The Albion public house, in Bath Road - was organised at 5.35pm, and the investigation then spread to petrol stations in the area.

"We went to the old disused Shell petrol station in Bath Road, before checking others in Commandery Road and the old Bristol Street Motors site," Mr Mackie added.

The "gruelling" operation continued into the night as scores of other residents complained.

Mr Mackie said the public was reassured and offered fans to ventilate their houses.

"The smell will recede as the day continues, and residents are at absolutely no risk," said a spokesman for Severn Trent.