FOUR fire appliances and a command unit were sent to deal with a chemical spill in Ipswich this evening.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service received reports of the spill at about 4.50pm at Karl King Transport in Foxtail Road.

One appliance from Ipswich East, two from Princes Street and the Woodbridge Pump and Command Unit were dispatched.

When they arrived at the scene they found about 15kg of the chemical on the floor. The area was cordoned off and staff were evacuated.

At about 5.45pm it was established that four 25kg bags had ruptured. An inner cordon was established and a crew was sent to acquire an over-sized drum.

At 5.50pm the over-sized drum was on site and two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and chemical gloves proceeded to clear the chemical up using the drum.

The Environment Agency arrived at just after 6.10pm.

The incident had been brought under control by about 6.30pm.

In total four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reels made the scene safe and completed the decontamination.

Crews were back at their stations by 7.15pm.