A BIG surge in poisonous fumes halted production at a North-East factory.
Firefighters were called to the Palmer UK factory, in Hartlepool, after a surge in pressure caused vital equipment to shut down.
Six people were evacuated from the Tofts Farm Industrial Estate factory while firefighters from the Hartlepool and Billingham stations made sure that the 25,000sq ft plant was safe.
Company director Douglas Brown said that there was no damage to the factory.
He said: "What happens is we have something called a thermal oxydiser, which converts fumes and puts them out clean into the atmosphere.
"There was a surge in the chamber of that and the pressure release valves released the pressure and closed it down."
Mr Brown said there was no question of poisonous fumes affecting the staff working at the plant.
Production at the two-shift factory was halted after the incident at about 5.10pm on Monday.
Work re-started yesterday afternoon at the factory, which makes friction particles for car brake-linings.
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