Major chemical spill sparks alert

Military crews turned out to the chemical spillage

A massive chemical spill sparked a huge clean-up operation in Bristol.

Emergency services were called in when concentrated sulphuric acid leaked out into the road at a tanker washing station.

But when water was added to the acid to try and wash it away, a chemical reaction created a cloud of gas.

Military fire crews spent more than six-and-a-half hours clearing up the spillage in the Avonmouth area of the city on Friday evening.

Chemical reaction

The alarm was raised at 1516 GMT on Friday when Green Goddesses were called to deal with a spill of sulphuric acid at the Pickfords Vanguard site.

It is believed water was added to what was thought to be 2,000 litres of diluted acid.

The acid spilled on to the ground

But the acid was actually 98% concentrate, and the water caused a chemical reaction, releasing a huge plume of gas.

A police spokesman said: "Military crews were called to a tanker washing facility in Avonmouth where sulphuric acid had leaked into the road.

"Chemical fumes were being discharged from an underground storage tank."

He added: "A Red Goddess fire engine and a breathing apparatus response team (BART) were sent to the scene from the temporary fire station at Flying Fox in Bristol.

Fumes discharged

"Teams used chemical contamination equipment to contain the spillage, and the incident was closed at 2148 GMT."

Local water company Wessex Water said there was no danger of the acid getting into the water supply.

Gillian Winstone, spokesperson for Wessex Water, said: "There is no concern at the moment.

"Wessex Water is monitoring the pumping station, in case any of it goes into the sewers.

"There is no danger of it getting into the water supply as this is totally separate."