Fire crews decontaminate children

Schoolchildren in Gateshead had to be decontaminated after they were exposed to a potentially dangerous chemical.

Fire crews were called to Ryton Comprehensive School on Thursday morning, to deal with a spillage of sodium hydroxide crystals.

A special decontamination unit was set up and about ten students were treated then sent home in paper clothing.

The school said it planned disciplinary action against the student who removed the substance from the laboratory.

Fully trained

Trevor Tague, from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Our initial report was that there was a spillage of this chemical at the school and we responded appropriately to the risk by mobilising our specialist equipment to the scene.

"When we arrived we were able to fully assess the situation and found that we were only dealing with a small quantity of the substance and that it had thankfully only affected a small number of the students."

He added: "Our firefighters are fully trained to respond to chemical-related incidents.

"Sodium hydroxide is a dangerous substance and, with greater quantities, this could have been a much more serious situation."