Roads have now reopened in Great Victoria Street following a gas leak

RUSH hour traffic was hit on Wednesday evening following a gas leak at a former hospital in Belfast city centre.

The Fire Service and police rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised around 3.45pm at the old Shaftesbury Hospital in Shaftesbury Square.

A number of nearby properties had to be evacuated during the alert,

Six fire appliances attended the scene and police erected a security cordon in the area and road closures were put in place for public safety.

Police closed Great Victoria Street from Shaftesbury Square to Ventry Street and Dublin Road was also closed.

The alert is now over and all roads in the area have since reopened.

Phoenix Gas also attended the scene.

A number of Metro bus services were diverted, but a normal timetable has since resumed.