Sticky problem of semolina spill

People living in a Norfolk town woke up to a layer of white flakes covering the ground after a factory blasted two tonnes of semolina into the air.

Pedestrian access around Haven Bridge, Great Yarmouth, was closed as cleaners battled to get rid of the sticky mess.

As they tried to clean it away with water, the powder turned into the much-loathed dessert.

The grain was thrown out of the top of the Pasta Foods silo after a sudden release of air pressure on Thursday.

'Heavy frost'

John Hemsworth, Great Yarmouth Council's head of environmental health, said: "It looked like there had been a heavy frost.

"Everywhere was just white, even the grass.

"We had 10 to 15 people trying to clear it up, but as soon as it got wet it became more of a problem."

Mr Hemsworth added: "We had to get permission from the Environment Agency to put it in the river, then permission from Anglian Water to put it into the drains. It was all very complicated."