THE accidental mixing of two highly toxic chemicals caused a gas leak at a council leisure centre, investigations have revealed.

And the North West Green Party has called for tougher safeguards on the storage and shipment of chemicals after the leak on Monday at Darwen Leisure Centre.

Four people needed treatment at Blackburn Infirmary for the effects of chlorine gas inhalation.

The alert started shortly after 10am in the basement plant room underneath the large pool and five fire crews were called.

The building was evacuated during the five hour clean-up operation.

Sub officer Paul Yates, of Darwen fire station, said: "The firefighters used chemical protection suits because the gasses emitted were highly toxic.

"A specialist chemical company was called in to neutralise the reaction which was caused during the mixing of the compounds used for cleaning the water."

A spokeswoman for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said: "The council health and safety officers discovered that staff were taking a delivery of chemicals for the pool when one chemical came into contact with another and released a cloud of chlorine gas.

"The gas is unpleasant when breathed in but has no lasting effect. "All members of staff affected have been released from hospital and are due back at work as usual."

Green Party spokesman Chris Maile said: "It seems that the Green Party must put out statements calling for tougher laws nearly every week, with the incidents getting closer together, and still no action taken by the Government.

"It is simply a question of time before a major chemical leak destroys hundreds if not thousands of lives, action has to be taken as a matter or priority."

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