Dozens of residents forced from their homes after a gas leak may not be compensated for their losses.

Residents of 21 flats from Stevens Court and Benson Court, off Portland Road, Hove, were facing yet another night in temporary accommodation last night after the leak on Tuesday.

Many of the residents are elderly or on limited budgets and have been stockpiling Christmas food for months which has now been ruined.

Southern Gas said it was working closely with affected residents and confirmed that it is dealing with claims after the electrical supply was cut off on Wednesday morning.

But Brighton and Hove City Council, which has put up residents in the Jury’s Inn Hotel in Brighton, has said it will not compensate for residents’ losses.

Southern Gas still has not pinpointed the source of the leak which forced residents of 40 flats to be evacuated and staff say they cannot guarantee people will be back home in time for Christmas.

It allowed residents into their flats under escort yesterday to collect emergency belongings such as changes of clothes and medication.