SIX people were taken to hospital as 50 firefighters tackled a chemical spillage at paper recycling company Fort Sterling in Stubbins early today.

The Fire Brigade said said two workers were decanting sodium hydrosulphite powder from a hopper into containers when the bleaching agent spilled on to the floor of the pulp process building at 1.30am.

Two workers and four firemen inhaled sulphur dioxide gas, released when moisture on the floor reacted with the powder.

They were taken to Bury General hospital suffering from respiratory problems.

Divisional Officer Jim Chappell said: "Although the substance reacts with moisture the advice from the chemists was to swill it away with water through the drains and then it could be treated at the company's effluent plant nearby.

"While this was happening the drains blocked and so we ended up physically shovelling the chemical into bins."

The mill continued in production and was not evacuated and nearby houses were unaffected.

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