A SUPERMARKET worker received treatment to his eyes after a gas leak at Burnley's Asda store.

The man was operating a sit-on cutting machine at the Princess Way supermarket when he cut through a 3in refrigeration pipe.

The pipe contained a commercial mixture used for refrigeration which turned out to be non-hazardous.

As a result, all the stores chilled and frozen food was taken off sale after the refrigeration system went down.

Asda's refrigeration engineers were on the scene this morning to refill the gas.

Sub Officer Steve Cope, of Burnley Fire and Rescue, said: "The man was wearing ear protection at the time so he didn't realise what he had done until it started to effect his eyes.

"He then contacted us after hearing hissing. Transco were already at the scene, but it turned out the gas wasn't flammable.

"We ventilated the storeroom and the man was given treatment by paramedics."

Graham Price, Asda's Store Manager, said: "He didn't notice what had happened until he felt the gas on his eyes, by this time all the gas tank had emptied.

"As a result we won't have any frozen or chilled produce this morning.

"We hope the refrigeration system will be working by about 2pm today.

"Hopefully, we won't have lost any stock because it's all gone into back-up refrigeration and trailers outside the store.

"We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers."