FIREFIGHTERS called out to deal with a chemical spillage today discovered the liquid was perfume.

Russell Claydon

FIREFIGHTERS called out to deal with a chemical spillage at a factory in Great Cornard, near Sudbury have discovered it is perfume.

Residents had been told to close their windows and shut their doors after the alert went out at 2.45pm over the then unknown substance which was leaking from a lorry.

But just as crews from seven fire engines and three support vehicles were preparing to don biological suits it was discovered the smell was familiarly sweet.

Radiator Road, which runs up to Guildford factory had been cordoned of whilst police and fire officers assessed the situation.

Traffic built up on Kings Hill as drivers strained to get a look at what was causing all the commotion.

Pat Dacey, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service's incident commander at the scene, said there had been problems with the foreign lorry driver in communicating what he was carrying.