Around 150 customers in the town's Millbank Road, Ross Wynd, MacLeod Place, Chestnut Road, Neil Gunn Place and Neil Gunn Road were amongst those affected when the supply was cut following the glitch. Householders were left without gas for periods of between four and eight hours while engineers battled to pinpoint the problem, ultimately tracked down to a pipe which runs under a local burn.

Engineers believe the pipe was subject to water incursion, causing subsequent freezing during the latest cold snap.

Scotland Gas Networks spokesman Duncan MacDonald said repairs have been made to sections of the pipe pending a planned replacement of existing cast iron pipework with more flexible and durable polyethylene pipes now preferred.

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