Four treated over toxic gas leak

Police said it was believed to be gas inhalation

An animal incineraton plant has been shut after four people suffered breathing difficulties caused by "toxic" gas inhalation, police said.

Emergency services were called to the plant in Brechin just before 1000 BST.

One worker is in a critical condition in Dundee with severe damage to his lungs. Two other men and a female paramedic are also being treated.

Their injuries are thought to be as a result of toxic gas inhalation, possibly hydrogen sulphide.

Tayside Police said one man, a 53-year-old from Brechin who worked at the plant, is still in a critical condition in the High Dependency Unit at Ninewells Hospital.

Three others are still being monitored in the short stay ward within Ninewells Hospital with lung complaints.

They are two men, aged 53 and 34, one from Perth and the other from Brechin, and a female paramedic.

First and foremost in the minds of the operators of Sacone must be the health and wellbeing of the local community and I am very disappointed that this has been compromised North Tayside MSP John Swinney

The premises, run by Sacone Environmental Ltd, employs 25 full-time staff. The plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week processing animal carcasses.

The plant primarily takes animals killed at the Matheson Jess abattoir, situated next to the plant, for gasification.

In December, the BBC reported that Sacone Environmental Ltd had been criticised by local residents in Brechin who claimed plant was releasing smells which were causing sickness in the local community.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has already issued Sacone Environmental with two enforcement notices - one in June this year and one in June 2006.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told BBC Scotland's news website that the company had volunteered to shut its doors following the incident on Wednesday.

She added that a joint investigation would be carried out between the Health and Safety Executive and Tayside Police.

The plant is expected to remain closed while the investigation is being carried out.

'Community frustration'

But MSP for North Tayside and Finance Secretary, John Swinney, said he was "deeply concerned" by the latest incident.

He said: "Throughout the summer of last year close attention was paid to Sacone to ensure that they were heeding the complaints of the local community in Brechin.

"This attention resulted in a heated public meeting to discuss the matter, with representatives from all the relevant authorities in attendance.

"It is very frustrating that despite the attention and tense exchanges on the matter that we appear to be in a worse position than last year.

"First and foremost in the minds of the operators of Sacone must be the health and wellbeing of the local community and I am very disappointed that this has been compromised today."

Local councillor Mairi Evans added: "The frustration of the local community at this latest event is completely understandable.

"We have been continually informed that Sacone are putting in place measures to make the installation secure, yet more incidents repeatedly occur.

"I have been liaising with the local community and my colleague John Swinney on this latest incident, and I will ensure pressure is brought to bear upon Sacone to listen to the views of Brechiners."