A CONTROLLED explosion had to be carried out at a high school following concerns over the storage of an unsafe chemical.

The incident happened at Todmorden High School in Burnley Road, Todmorden, at around 11pm last night.

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Police said it was part of a "planned operation" and it had been a success.

A police spokesman said:: “Police attended a school in Todmorden to assist in the disposal of a school chemical contained on site as part of a planned operation.

“The substance is a chemical kept on site in some schools for use in science lessons. It has been withdrawn from premises in certain cases as a precaution following new national advice over its storage.

“Police assisted the local education authority in safely resolving the matter with the minimum of disruption.”

The local authority-run school was acting in response to government advice from the Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Equipment to check for 2,4-DNP.

Calderdale Council’s Director for Director for Adult and Children's Services, Stuart Smith, said: “Following guidance this week over the storage of the chemical 2.4 DNP, our Health and Safety advisors have visited every school in Calderdale that holds the chemical and either declared them safe or requiring action.

“When action has been required we have passed information on to the Police to deal with appropriately.”