Two separate gas leaks led to the evacuation of premises on both sides of the border yesterday, including a Kilkenny hospital.

Businesses in Belfast city centre were cleared after a contractor cut through a gas pipe under Bedford Street.

Phoenix Natural Gas confirmed a third party contractor had damaged supply.

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The area was evacuated as gas levels in the area increased.

Engineers rushed to the scene to repair the damage.

Meanwhile, around 20 hospital patients were evacuated from a Kilkenny hospital follow a gas leak.

The Department of Psychiatry at St Luke's Hospital was cleared, while outpatient appointments for the afternoon were cancelled.

The Health Service Executive said it believed construction workers at the hospital had hit a gas pipe.

The HSE said the hospital functioned normally throughout, but had advised against unnecessary visits to the hospital.

(PR/JM)