LONDON, Sept. 24 -- A seaside town in Lancashire, England briefly mistook the King of Fruits for a public hazard this week when locals reported a "strong smell of gas" on the high street - prompting a full-on visit from Cadent engineers and even police officers.

Cadent, the UK company responsible for maintaining the gas pipelines that deliver fuel to homes and businesses, sent engineers to investigate - only to discover that the source of the panic in Lytham St Annes was South-east Asia's famously stinky durian, after it was stocked by greengrocer Strongs Fruit and Veg onSeptember 16.

UK's The Times newspaper reported on Monday that staff members Wai Peng Cheng, 51, and Candy Pooi Kuan Lam, 46, had suggested the exotic treat after a rec...