A MAJOR road linking a town with the rest of Teesside was closed for most of yesterday following a chemical leak.

The leak was discovered by the driver of a truck carrying several 45 gallon drums of proprionic anhydride when he stopped in the Claxton Bank layby of the A689, near Hartlepool.

He noticed that some of the corrosive chemical had spilled on to the vehicle and the road after he pulled over to buy food from a mobile snack bar.

Fire officers evacuated the snack bar, sending its two staff away for medical checks, while both carriageways of the road were sealed off at about 10.45am.

Although the westbound route was opened after a few hours, the eastbound carriageway, leading into Hartlepool, remained partially closed until 5pm.

Divisional officer Ian Gettings said: "When the initial crews arrived, they found a flat bed lorry with one of its drums overturned.

"Once the people in the snack bar had been evacuated, we moved in fire officers in protective suits and with breathing apparatus and turned the drum over to stop the chemical from leaking out."

The crews of seven fire engines at the scene were assisted by environmental protection officials, staff from Northumbrian Water, and chemical firm BASF's Chemsafe Unit.

Ten firemen were later taken to hospital to be checked as a precaution after they complained of chest pains and sore throats from inhaling the chemical.

Police emphasised that there was no danger to the public.