Durian Mistaken for Gas Leak in Lytham St Annes

A suspected gas leak that drew an engineer and police to Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, was revealed to be the smell of durian fruit on sale at Strongs Fruit and Veg. Cadent dispatched an engineer after a customer in a nearby charity shop reported a “strong gassy smell,” and he checked several neighbouring shops before identifying the pungent durian. Store assistants Wai Peng Cheng and Candy Pooi Kuan Lam, who had suggested stocking the fruit after returning from Malaysia, said the engineer did not believe them until they gave him a piece and he confirmed the odour. The shop received the delivery on September 16 and is selling durian for about £22 per 500g; staff said the fruit “flew off the shelf” despite its notorious rotting-onion aroma that is banned on some Asian public transport. The engineer still checked outside and police carried out safety checks, and no gas leak was found.