A gas leak had threatened to derail it but in the end there was no escaping the entertainment in Victoria Road on Saturday.

The street - which has been blighted by roadworks in recent months and on Tuesday had to be evacuated because of a faulty gas pipe - celebrated the end of disruption this weekend with dancing, food, face painting and much else.

Crowds turned out for the street party, organised by businesses owners on the road and supported by Romford MP Andrew Rosindell as well as councillors, which was aimed at highlighting all Victoria Road has to offer.

It follows a £1.8million renovation project, funded by Transport for London (TfL) and executed by Havering Council, which has improved aspects of the street including bus stop access, cycle parking and lighting.

Work to do up The Battis walkway linking Waterloo Road and Romford station remains underway.

The council’s cabinet member for environment, Cllr Robert Benham, thanked TfL for the funding, adding the road was now “much more inviting”

He went on: “And the street party is just the start - once people come along, they’ll want to keep coming back, especially to sample some of the great food on offer!”