THE new year almost started with a bang in Farnham when gas engineers were called out to fix a faulty gas pipe in the town centre last Friday. Engineers from Southern Gas Networks were called out at 11 am after a reported smell of gas in West Street. After arriving at the scene, engineers traced a gas leak to a service pipe in the footpath outside the shop Phase Eight. This and its three neighbouring shops, Accessorize, Holland & Barrett and Millets were evacuated as a precaution and the public footpath immediately outside was sealed off as no smoking signs were put up. Work took place to cut off the old disused service pipe during the afternoon and the shops were reopened at 2-30 pm. Work to repair the disruption to the road surface outside the shops is being completed this week.