SPECIALIST teams of fire fighters tackled a chemical spillage at the Hatchmoor Industrial Estate in Torrington.

Sodium hypochlorite acid, a flammable and corrosive material used as a farm sterilizer and disinfectant, leaked outside Tamar Trading Company Ltd.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and gas tight suits set up a safety cordon following the spill at about 10.30am on Monday morning.

Bideford fire station commander Graham Rooke said the chemical was extremely hazardous to the environment, flammable, highly corrosive and could cause burns to people.

He said the fire crews' top priority, after making the area safe, was to ensure the chemical did not get into the drainage systems or any nearby waterways or streams.

He believed the 20 litre barrel of hypochlorite had been damaged by nails on a pallet although investigations are still ongoing.

He added that some 16,000 litres of water would have been needed to flush away the chemical had it polluted these environment.

Simon Gibson, assistant manager of Tamar Trading Company Ltd explained the Gregory's lorry carrying the hypochlorite was just delivering paint to the merchants.

The chemical was one of the items travelling on the mixed cargo lorry due to be delivered elsewhere.

Some 14 workers at the building and timber merchants were told to stay indoors as a precautionary measure.

They were allowed out of the area, which smelled of chlorine, after three hours.

He said: "I've never seen anything like this in my two and a half years working here.

"We have lost the morning's trading, but all the staff remained relaxed and the fire brigade have done a fantastic job."

More than 20 fire fighters from Torrington, Bideford and Barnstaple tackled the spill while keeping the Environment Agency informed of their work.

Mr Rooke added: "The action of the first crew from Torrington on the scene was exactly as it should be and all the teams worked really well to get this cleared up."