By 9am today, 50 homes had access to gas again, three days after the leak which caused a complete cut-off.

Shortly after that, the gas supply was restored to Marsden Mechanics' Hall, which has played a crucial role as food and information centre and operations base.

Today's priority for an army of gas engineers was the village centre.

However, some homes further out from the centre, or holiday homes that engineers cannot easily get into, may have to wait until tomorrow or later in the week.

Both the junior and infant schools remained shut today.

John O'Grady, communications director for Northern Gas Networks, said: "The people of Marsden have been very, very understanding in what have been extremely difficult circumstances.

"I'd like to assure them that our engineers are doing everything possible to reconnect gas supplies."

But he added safety was their number one priority.

Yesterday, work continued relentlessly around the village.

Engineers resumed their painstaking task of visiting every single property - believed to be between 2,000 and 2,500 - to ensure their gas was switched off.

All supplies have to be switched off before it is safe to build up the pressure again in the mains and reconnect the homes.

But the crisis is taking its toll on village life.

Lisa Wrigley, owner of the Crumbals-on-the-Corner cafe, said: "It's like a ghost town."

She said because people were required to stay at home and wait for the engineers to visit, business had been slow.

Throughout the crisis Marsden Mechanics' Hall has been used as the emergency centre.

Kirklees emergency planners found out about the incident on Saturday night and much of their response has been centred on the hall.

The emergency team has worked closely with other departments including health, housing, education, catering and transport to ensure the situation is managed correctly.

Hall manager Janet Maude said: "I think in terms of emergency planning and the gas utility side of it, nothing more could have been done.

"The elderly have been looked after well and food has been taken out to the elderly and the vulnerable.

"Electric hobs have been distributed and hot food is available here."

Asked about the role of the Mechanics' Hall she said: "With it being right in the middle of the village it's been the one place anybody can come to find out what the situation is.

"The whole village has pulled together and it's been marvellous."

Janet Russell, director of environment, transportation and property, is a member of the Kirklees Council emergency planning team.

She said of their response to the situation: "I think the answer is to ask the people of Marsden.

"If they felt we missed something then obviously we'll take that on board.

"But with the resources at our disposal I think we probably delivered as much as we could to ensure at least people had some warmth and that there was some warm food available."

Meals were served at lunch time in the large seating area in the Mechanics' Hall.

Tucking into a hearty lunch of roast pork and gravy was Michelle Wasp and her daughter Mylissa.

Michelle said: "I think it's excellent. All the community is pulling together and at least we like looking after each other."

Describing the food she said: "It's really good, it's really nice. My daughter's enjoyed it."

But she said the cold weather was taking its toll at home.

"It's freezing in our house because we can't even get a heater.

"We live in a big four bedroom house so it's really hard to keep warm.

"We have just got one little heater now in the front room but as for that we're just snuggling up on the settee with quilts."