Officers' sickness sparks alert

Emergency services attended the scene

An alert which closed part of Birmingham's main railway station was caused by nine police officers suffering from food poisoning.

An area of New Street Station was cordoned off and ambulance staff wearing chemical protection suits went to the scene on Saturday afternoon.

The ambulance service said nine people had diarrhoea and were vomiting and three of them were taken to hospital.

Police said the officers fell ill after dispersing a protest march in the city.

British Transport Police defended disruption that was caused to travellers, and said the decisions were made on safety grounds.