STORM Goretti wreaked havoc in the village of Grampound, where a gas leak caused by storm damage led to many households being evacuated.

Resident Annette Egerton described the unsettling feeling of “the unknown, of having to move out”.

She said: “Our power went off on the early evening but came back on at around 9.45pm. Then I saw a torch in the garden – it was a policeman, who said there had been a major gas leak and they were evacuating homes that were close to it. They were recommending we go to either Probus or Sticker Village Halls.

“We went to Probus, and it was really tricky getting there. There were at least six trees down and we had to drive around them in the dark – you were almost on them before you saw them.

“When we arrived, we were told they were waiting for Wales and West to make things safe. We were able to return home at around midnight, and again, the drive back was pretty hairy – at one point, we had to stop and wait while a fallen tree was cut up to clear the road. And the power had gone off again when we got home.”

By this morning, the power had returned and the Egertons were “nice and cosy”. Mrs Egerton paid tribute to volunteers in Probus who were “very kind and looked after us, while the police gave us regular updates”. The Hawkins Arms provided supplies for tea and coffee.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue confirmed 30 properties were evacuated.

A spokesperson for Wales & West Utilities said: "We were called yesterday evening by Cornwall Fire & Rescue to the Grampound area after reports of a gas leak. On arrival, we found that a tree had fallen, damaging a gas service governor in the area, causing it to leak.

“As a precaution, the emergency services had evacuated a nearby property. Our engineers worked as safely and as quickly as possible and have made the area safe. The resident has been allowed to return to their home, and the emergency services have left the area.

“We are now working to make a permanent repair. There has been no impact on wider gas supplies.”

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called at around 9pm on Thursday, January 8 to assist Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service following reports of a gas leak in Fore Street in Grampound.

“Officers assisted with road closures and cordons, and several people were temporarily evacuated from their homes as a precaution. They were able to begin returning home from 11.30pm.

“Wales and West engineers also attended, and the scene was left with them.”

Grampound’s village shop remained closed today due to a lack of electricity caused by a fallen tree resting on the power line.