Village centre sealed off in chemical drama

Emergency crews cordoned off the centre of a village for eight hours while they dealt with a toxic chemical spill.

Residents in Wymeswold were ordered to stay indoors with their windows closed to avoid noxious vapours from 150 litres of sulphuric battery acid and industrial chemical which seeped into the street from a lorry.

Firefighters were called to Far Street at 10.45am yesterday to deal with the leaking fluid and isolated around 30 homes, preventing people from entering or leaving the area.

Fire service incident commander Nigel Shaw said the truck had been carrying a one-ton battery, which came loose from its harness and fell on a drum of trichloroethylene, causing the spill.

Mr Shaw said: "There was enough leaking out to cause some concern for the people living in the vicinity because of the vapours. We instructed people to stay indoors while we contained the spill and arranged for the chemicals to be cleaned up."

Mr Shaw said the driver came into contact with the spilled chemicals and was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged.

Paramedic Jason Livingstone, who was on the scene to treat any potential casualties, said: "Most of the chemical was an industrial cleaning fluid which if someone were exposed to it in large quantities in a confined space could prove fatal."

Jason Beaumont, 21, of Far Street, woke up to find emergency crews trying to stem the flow of the chemicals.

He said: "It was running down the street. They had a big orange tent up over the area of the spill and there were guys in chemical protection suits all around. It looked like a scene from ET.

"I left the house to have a look at what was going on but then the area got cordoned off and I couldn't get back in.

"I had to wait in the pub for hours before I could get back in."

The police arranged for the village church to be opened to provide tea, coffee and biscuits for people stranded away from their homes.

Rohith da Silva, 44, was stuck in his home in White Horse Close, off Far Street, until 6.30pm.

He said: "The police officer came round and told me not to leave and not to come outside.

"In these situations you just do as you are told. It was a bit frustrating not to be able to leave."

Some of the fluid leaked into the village drains but was flushed clear with hose jets.

A police spokesman said: "It was quite a long operation and we were grateful for the patience of residents."