A CHEMICAL leak saw part of a busy Leamington road closed and residents on ‘lockdown’.
Police received reports of a strong chemical smell in the Tachbrook Road area, near to Shire Foods, following an ammonia leak at around 7pm on Saturday.
The immediate area by the Tachbrook Park industrial estate was cordoned off as a precaution and West Midlands Ambulance Service and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue attended.
Members of the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were also on site and wore gas-tight suits while they sealed the leak.
Local residents say they were on ‘lockdown’ after being advised to close all windows and doors to minimise any potential exposure.
Some reported burning eyes and others spent the night stopping with relatives to avoid the area.
One resident said: “My daughter and son in law are in agony after parking in Dobson Lane and walking to ours.”
Another said: “My family have been on lockdown since 7pm. Apparently the smell is horrendous and eyes are stinging and badly affected.”
And one reported how badly the area smelt. He said: “When I got onto Montgomery Road a really strong smell hit. It smells a lot like hair dye.”
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue safely completed the containment of the chemical, and the road re-opened at around 10am on Sunday.
A police spokesman said: “We would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding.”
The HART thanked the public for their understanding of the road closures.
A spokesman said: “The ammonia was leaking from a two-tonne vessel into a drainage system. “The leak was contained within the building and there were no patients. The HART team worked in gas tight suits along with firefighters and engineers within the building and the leak has been sealed.”
