MILLIONS of pounds are being invested in the region’s gas supply.

Northern Gas Networks is replacing 346km of old metal gas mains with durable plastic pipe across West, North and East Yorkshire this financial year.

The £33million package of work is part of a 30-year programme, launched in 2002, to replace all metal gas mains within 30 metres of a property. The upgrade will benefit residential areas and is not expected to have an impact on motorists.

The investment includes £2.2million of work in York, £2.6m in East Yorkshire, £3m in North Yorkshire, £1.4m in Hull and £6.1m in Leeds Mark Horsley, chief executive officer of Northern Gas Networks, said many of the mains within 30 metres of a property were more than 50 years old.

He said: “By replacing them with modern plastic pipes we can ensure the continued safety and reliability of the gas network for the 6.7 million people who live and work in our region. Across the region we’ll be replacing almost 11km of gas mains every single week of the year.”

Customers will be advised in advance about work starting and kept up-to-date as work progresses.