A CHEMICAL alert was sparked after a dangerous substance leaked out of dumped storage drums on to wasteland.

The county analyst, environmental officers and firefighters worked through-out the weekend to prevent any harm arising from the spillage at land off Hollins Grove Street, Darwen.

Tests revealed a number of the leaking 45-gallon drums contained the chemical dimethylamine ranked in the top 10 per cent of the most hazardous compounds to ecosystems and human health.

An investigation was under way today to find out who dumped the drums.

Metal rods were found nearby and it is believed they were used to pierce the drums.

At around 9.30pm on Saturday fire crews and the police were called after reports of about 20 youths congregating around a rubbish fire.

The 21 drums were found after the youths had been dispersed.

And on Sunday evening fire officers found a portable cabin on the site alight after being torched by yobs. These are the latest incidents on the problem site.

In April there was an explosion after arsonists set fire to a Ford Escort containing a gas cylinder.

The discovery of the drums saw the borough's environmental protection officer, Stuart Masheter, called out along with the county analyst, Mike Ainscough, and Lancashire Fire and Rescue's hazardous materials officer, Dave Johnstone.

The brigade's Environ-mental protection unit was also called in.

The hazardous drums were eventually removed from the site at about 5am on Sunday, said police.

Tony Hartley, watch manager at Darwen fire station, said specialist absorbing powder was used to soak up the leak from six of the drums that "had been deliberately punctured".

Inspector Chris Saville confirmed the chemical was dimethylamine, used in building materials, and that at about 5am on Sunday Neales Waste Management arrived to remove the dangerous drums.