Another resident, who lives in the building just outside the cordon, heard the crash from his second floor flat. He told the ECHO: “It was some bang. It sounded like a huge truck had crashed.” @LivEchonews

Another resident described Prescot Road as “dangerous”. He said: “It’s so scary. I hate this road. It gets so busy and it’s dangerous. “It can take 20 minutes to get across the road when it’s rush hour.” @LivEchonews

One resident, who lives outside the cordon, said he heard a ‘huge bang’ at around 4pm. He said: “I was just in the house when I heard a huge bang. I came outside and the cars were all smashed up and someone was taken in an ambulance.” @LivEchonews

A recovery vehicle has arrived to clear the scene @LivEchonews

An ambulance has just left the scene. @LivEchonews

Photographs from the scene @LivEchonews

Cars are being diverted away from the scene. Congestion is building in the area @LivEchonews

There are three smashed cars inside the cordon @LivEchonews

Good evening. I’m on Prescot Road in Old Swan where there is a large road closure in place. @LivEchonews

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Cars are being directed away from the area by police. @LivEchonews

It’s an eerie night and the fog is dense. Forensic officers take pictures of the scene @LivEchonews

Two police officers are knocking on doors inside the cordon @LivEchonews

The cordon stretches to the junction at Picton Road @LivEchonews

Good evening. I am at Bishopgate Street in Wavertree where there is a large cordon in place. @LivEchonews

An industrial site and an adjacent building were evacuated earlier today due to a ‘gas escape’ @LivEchonews

MFRS added: “Crews arrived to find a gas escape had occurred and after liaising with the responsible person and an operative from Cadent Gas established a 500 metre cordon, with all on-site employees and an adjacent building evacuated.” @LivEchonews

A spokesperson for Mersey Fire said: “Fire crews have been called to a gas escape from an asset used for industrial purposes at a site on Fleming Road in Halewood. “A 500 metre cordon is in place around the affected area.” @LivEchonews

One resident, who lives on Woodend Avenue, said it was “chaos” trying to get home from work. He said: “I came down Higher Road and a policewoman told me I couldn’t get down Woodend because it was all blocked off. I had to park my car miles away and walk home, it was chaos.”