THERE was major traffic chaos in the Lowton area after three roads were closed following a chemical spill.

A wagon carrying Acrysol was travelling along Atherleigh Way at the junction of the A580 East Lancashire Road in Lowton when one of the barrels burst shortly before 11.30am yesterday.

The junction of Atherleigh Way with A580 East Lancashire Road, the Greyhound Island junction A580 Westbound and the Newton Road A572 junction with A580 Eastbound were closed while the fire brigade embarked on a clean up operation.

The substance is not believed to be hazardous and no one was injured.

The roads were closed for several hours and traffic was diverted away from the area.