Ofgem has acknowledged that 340 consumers in Sheffield are in an “extremely difficult” situation as they have been without gas supply for a week.

Residents in Stannington lost their gas supply after more than 1.5 million litres of water escaped a water pipe and contaminated gas pipes.

A leisure centre and a school in the area have offered affected residents the opportunity to use their facilities, including their showers.

Ofgem said: “While we are grateful to engineers from Cadent and all of the other organisations who are working around the clock to restore supplies as soon as possible, we are extremely concerned that 194 consumers on the Priority Services Register remain off gas (as of 09.00 on 10th December), along with hundreds of other homes.

“We have received assurances from Cadent that each of these customers is being cared for and made comfortable while they wait for their supply to be restored.”

Cadent has confirmed that all homes that have been without gas will receive compensation at £130 per day and for seven days as a minimum. Commercial properties will receive £210 per day.

Yorkshire Water has also confirmed it will handle compensation claims for water damage and additional costs incurred.

Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield said: “This weather is absolutely devastating to those without gas.”