Gas-leak scare in Lancashire town ends with durian discovery

Emergency gas workers were dispatched to Lytham St Annes, a seaside town in Lancashire, after residents reported a strong, gas-like smell on the high street. Cadent, the gas distribution company, said no leak was detected following checks at three shops and urged residents to remain vigilant but reassured the public that a leak had not been found.

The investigation began at a charity shop and a nearby body care outlet before turning to Strongs Fruit and Veg, where the odour was traced to a few small boxes of durian fruit. Durian is a large, spiky-fruited delicacy from Southeast Asia whose distinctive scent has been described as powerful and polarizing. While some people find the aroma pleasant, others find it overwhelming or unpleasant, and the fruit is known to provoke strong reactions in public spaces.

Shop staff and customers watched as Cadent engineers searched the three shops for any sign of a gas leak. It was at Strongs Fruit and Veg that the source of the odour was finally identified. Shop assistant Wai Peng Cheng, 51, and his partner Candy Pooi Kuan Lam, 46, had recently bought durian fruit on a family holiday to Malaysia and suggested to the shop owner, Andrew Simpkins, 61, that he stock the delicacy. Simpkins recalled that the initial detection by the engineers was met with disbelief before they were shown the crates containing the fruit. “It was only when I took him outside and gave one to him that he realised. We all just started laughing. It was hilarious,” Cheng said. Simpkins noted that the new stock, priced at £22 per 500g, had proven popular with shoppers, despite the strong scent.

Cadent’s Phil Hendrick, head of operational delivery in the northwest, confirmed that no gas leak was detected in any of the three shops. He stressed that it is common for suspected leaks to turn out to be something else entirely and urged the public to call the National Gas Emergency Service at 0800 111 999 if they smell gas, day or night. “Act immediately and ring the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, day or night. Our engineers carry sensitive equipment that can detect even the smallest traces of gas. Whether it turns out to be gas, or just a smelly fruit, it’s always better to be safe than sorry,” he said. Cadent operates this emergency service for four of the UK’s eight gas distribution network areas.

The incident has drawn attention to the durian phenomenon, a fruit infamous for its potent odour. In some Asian countries, durian has prompted restrictions in hotels and on public transport because of its strong scent, underscoring how a single scent can disrupt ordinary commerce and trigger emergency responses. While the episode ended without danger, local authorities emphasized the importance of reporting any smells that could indicate a gas leak, and public safety messaging remained a priority for Cadent and its partners in the region.