I woke around 2:0 a.m.
I noticed what I thought was a smell of gas. Went to the window, which was open, and could smell it outside. Checked downstairs - all okay. Opened lounge window - same smell outside. Phoned the emergency number, thinking someone would say, 'Ah, yes, we have had a problem in the area' or something. The meter is outside lounge window. A chap came along and checked thoroughly, but he said he could smell it in the air from when he left his house. Seems there was some kind of Southampton dock area to do with plastics and a large cloud of some kind of gas, not dangerous, had risen into the air and was being blown miles away by the wind.
I'm glad I did not call anyone out on a wild goose chase, but was obviously right about the smell. thank goodness we have sensible and very capable engineers on call 24 hours a day to make sure all is safe.