Bomb squad seals off street over fears of ‘unsafe chemicals’ after man covered in mystery substance taken to hospital

Bomb raiders were deployed to cordon off a street for fear of “unsafe chemicals” leaking.

Police officers have urged the public to stay away after a man was found at a property in Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshirecovered in an “unknown substance” and taken to the hospital.

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Rescue workers rushed to the scene around 7am this morning after reports that the man needed “urgent medical attention”.

The police confirmed that his condition was stable.

Part of the street has been cordoned off while some surrounding homes have been evacuated as a “precautionary measure”.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “The man, in his 40s, was found to be covered in an unknown substance and colleagues from the West Midlands Ambulance Service and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service stopped by to give the individual expert help perform and ensure.” The substance posed no risk to the public.

“Following further investigation, it is believed that a property on Abbotts Road may contain a mixture of unsafe chemicals.

“To ensure the safety of the local community, colleagues from the British Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team were brought in to conduct a special search for the address.”

Superintendent Victoria Downing added that the response was a “single incident” and that there was “no risk” to the public.

This comes after guests were evacuated from the conference center at Alton Towers in January over a suspected chemical leak.

Meanwhile, in the same month, Watford General Hospital was overrun by firefighters after a chemical spill produced toxic fumes.