A CHEMICAL spillage at a food and drink flavourings specialist was caused by a leaking container on a delivery wagon.

Firefighters wearing chemical protection suits and breathing apparatus cordoned off The Duckworth Group in Astmoor as a precaution, last Thursday.

The alarm was raised after supervisor Paul Jackson noticed liquid escaping from a seven ton haulage vehicle.

John O'Hanlon of Duckworth, said: "As the liquid was unknown and the driver was carrying hazardous materials to other locations, it was decided to call the fire brigade to assess the level of hazard."

Staff were evacuated and road blocks set up as a hazardous materials unit and specialist firefighters tackled the spillage.

Firefighter Steve White, said: "They discovered that one 20 litre container of somplex fatsolve, a corrosive cleaning detergent, had been damaged and its contents were leaking."

The punctured drum was removed and placed inside a bigger container.

Mr O'Hanlon said the sanitising cleaner is used to maintain 'the very high hygiene standards required on the site'.

He added: "Duckworths are now investigating why a delivery was made to the site in such a condition."