An emergency rest centre has been opened in the city to help some of the most vulnerable people keep warm.

About 1,500 homes in the Belgrave area are still without gas.

The Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, on Rothley Street, opened on Wednesday night to offer more than 100 hot meals.

'No facilities'

Sangita Asawala: "We are very cold"

It is doing the same again on Thursday.

Belgrave resident Sangita Asawala said: "We don't have any hot water and no facilities to warm up our food.

"I've got kids and elderly parents and we are very cold."

There have also been power cuts in the area caused by too many electric heaters being used.

A spokesman for gas company Transco said: "A water main burst on Tuesday and flooded the local gas network.

Compensation claim

"We are working hard to get the water out of the gas pipes and are hoping to get the job completed over the next two or three days."

Normal gas supplies should be restored by Friday or Saturday.

Transco say residents affected could be entitled to compensation.

Meanwhile, people in the area are being urged to look out for neighbours who may be suffering the effects of the cold.