DARWEN Leisure Centre was evacuated on Monday when four members of staff were taken to hospital after being overcome by gas fumes.

Five fire crews and an incident support unit attended the incident which happened at 10.15am when a chemical reaction occurred between cleaning fluids used for the swimming pool.

None of the members of staff were seriously hurt after inhaling the gas but they were taken to hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties.

The centre was reopened to the public by the end of the day after a specialist team from a Manchester chemicals firm neutralised the chemicals.

Station Commander Chris Norse from Blackburn Fire Brigade said: "The premises were evacuated for the safety of staff and members of the public.

"We worked throughout the day to help neutralise the chemicals which were eventually safely decanted and taken away."

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