A tube station was evacuated yesterday afternoon after it was feared people could be exposed to harmful gases.

Tooting Broadway station was closed at about 1pm yesterday after staff smelt gas in the station concourse.

London Fire Brigade launched a major operation to deal with the incident, with 14 specialist units dispatched to the scene, including officers in chemical suits.

Firefighters were relieved to find the smell of gas was from underground sewers, after a manhole cover inside the station had become dislodged.

A firefighter that attended the incident said the station was closed for about an hour-and-a-half and major disruption was caused to traffic in the area.

Pavements around the station and some lanes of traffic were closed to give London Fire Brigade access to the scene.

The firefighter said: "Thankfully there was no risk to the public, just a bad smell."

He added: "But in these situation we cannot take any chances which is why we took the action we did."

Were you caught up in the incident? Contact the newsdesk on 0208 330 9541 or email weekend@london.newsquest.co.uk