UPDATE 1-L&G says corporate HQ evacuated

* Spokesman says business unaffected

* Gas leak triggers evacuation of corporate HQ

(Adds detail)

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - British insurer Legal & General's (LGEN.L) corporate headquarters in London have been evacuated because of a gas leak, a spokesman for the company said on Monday.

The company is operating from an alternative site in Southwark, south east London, and business is unaffected, the spokesman said.

"There is no effect on clients. It's business as usual," he told Reuters.

About 750 L&G staff are based at the group's corporate headquarters at 1 Coleman Street in the City of London financial district.

By 1422 GMT, shares in L&G, the UK's fourth-biggest publicly quoted life insurer, were up 6.5 percent at 53.2 pence.

UK insurance stocks were generally higher after Friends Provident (FP.L) rejected a takeover approach from buyout firm Resolution (RSL.L) on Monday morning. [ID:LD542208]

(Reporting by Myles Neligan; editing by Ben Deighton)