Man dies after gas leak

Officers and firemen rushed to the scene, on Stevenson Road in the West of Edinburgh, after reports of a gas leak in the afternoon.

Police investigating the death have said a post mortem will be carried out on the pensioner but the death is not believed to be suspicious.

Neighbours were evacuated from nearby houses, and roads were closed until the gas could be safely switched off, causing massive traffic jams in the area.

The man’s body was removed from the address and taken away by a private ambulance shortly after 4.30pm.

A neighbour said: “He was a quiet man who kept himself to himself.”

A police spokesman added: “Lothian and Borders Police responded to Stevenson Road at around 1.30pm on Monday 4th June following reports of a gas leak within a residential address.

“Roads in the area were closed for around two and a half hours and residents within the cordon were evacuated as a precaution.

“An 84-year-old man was found dead within the property during the enquiries conducted by police and fire service.

“There appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said: “The Sighthill fire engine was called to Stevenson Road at 1.35.

“We stood by until a gas engineer arrived on the scene.”

Lothian Buses said five different services were disrupted by the road closure.

No-one was available for comment from British Gas.