Up to 100 homes were evacuated last night after a gas main ruptured in south Belfast.

The police and fire crews set up a safety cordon and cleared families from the danger area after the gas leak was reported in south Belfast.

Homes along a major stretch of the Ormeau Road and adjoining streets were evacuated after the alert was raised.

The area's MP Alasdair McDonnell appealed for the public to follow advice from the emergency services, while Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey said local people initially feared an explosion after hearing what they described as a 'roar' as gas pumped out of the ruptured pipe.

The leak at the Ormeau bridge was reported by police at around 5pm. The arterial route was sealed off between Hatfield Street and Baroda Street, but by 11pm there were hopes that the gas supplier was bringing the incident under control.

Mr McDonnell said: "I understand that one of the main gas pipes on the Ormeau Road appears to have become fractured and it was clear to everyone who was there that a large volume of gas has escaped.

"I have been told by the emergency services there is no immediate danger but I would appeal to all residents to follow the safety advice given by police and the fire brigade."

Mr Maskey said residents were being moved to the Shaftesbury Recreation Centre and he praised the local community for the cooperation with the emergency services.

"People were understandably quite frightened early on," he said, "because the roar from the sound of the gas was very loud. It was like an aircraft. So people were obviously aware it was gas and they feared there could be an explosion."

Mr Maskey visited local people and said that while the inconvenience was regrettable, it was vital that safety take priority.

People were advised to close all doors and windows and to extinguish all naked flames.