Emergency services rushed to Shell UK's Braefoot Bay terminal in the early hours of this morning (Friday) after a gas leak. 

The site near to Aberdour was cordoned off after staff found the leak at 3am. 

The road to the marine terminal was also closed. 

Police and firefighters remained at the scene for more than seven hours until the situation was resolved at 10.20am. 

A Shell spokesperson said: “We can confirm there was a propane gas leak at Braefoot Bay marine terminal today.

"The leak was detected by site personnel during routine operations at 3am, and the situation was safely resolved by 10.20am.

"The emergency services were alerted and cordons were put in place as a precaution.

"Operations are now running as usual.”

The terminal is part of the Fife Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant, which includes the Shell site at Mossmorran. 

The terminal is a base for the export of liquefied petroleum gas.

The gas is first piped to Mossmorran direct from the North Sea and broken down. The products are then piped the final three-mile journey to Braefoot Bay where they are fed into tankers and gas carriers for markets in Europe and the USA. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Police in Fife supported a multi-agency response to a propane gas release at Braefoot Bay, which was detected at 3am and resolved around 10.20am.

"Cordons were put in place locally as a precautionary measure during this time, and officers have now left the area."