CHILDREN were evacuated from St Gabriel's Primary School and Nursery in Prestonpans today after emergency gas works had to take place, with nearby roads closed to traffic. 

SGN is currently carrying out work to repair a gas main on South Grange Avenue, resulting in the road being closed between Grange Grove and Grange Crescent East.

This has led East Lothian Council to close to the school and nursery for the rest of the day. 

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According to the council, parents and carers have received a message telling them about the situation and asking them to collect their children from St Gabriel's Church Hall.

The council confirmed that more than 150 children had been evacuated from the school and nursery; two nearby homes were also evacuated.

A statement released by East Lothian Council reads: "SGN is undertaking work in South Grange Avenue, Prestonpans, to repair a gas main.

"Due to the likely repair timescales, we have closed St Gabriel's Primary School and Nursery for the remainder of the day.

"All parents and carers have received a message to collect their child from St Gabriel's Church Hall.

"All children are safe and supported, and school staff will remain with them until the end of the day if they cannot be collected.

"South Grange Avenue is currently closed between Grange Grove and Grange Crescent East.

"Our roads team is aware and assisting SGN with its traffic management."

A council spokesperson later confirmed that the school would remain shut on Wednesday.

READ MORE: St Gabriel's Primary School to remain closed due to gas leak

Dan Brown, spokesperson for gas company SGN, said: "We’re carrying out urgent repairs to our gas network in South Grange Avenue, Prestonpans, after a smell of gas was reported this morning.

"Our engineers are carrying out investigations in the area and we’ve evacuated some properties, including St Gabriel’s Primary School and Nursery, to ensure everyone’s safety.

"The school moved pupils to St Gabriel’s RC Church Hall before contacting parents and carers to collect children from there.

"We’ve also partially closed South Grange Avenue to motorists around our site and local diversions are in place between Grange Road and Grange Grove to allow us to safely locate the gas escape and repair the affected pipe.

"It’s too early to suggest how long the repair will take to complete, and when it might be safe for people to reoccupy the evacuated properties.

"We’re constantly monitoring the situation and working hard to identify the source of the leak and carry out the required repairs as soon as we can."