More than 50 firefighters spent three hours tackling a chemical blaze at a mill last night.

The incident at Stone House Batty Mill, Heckmondwike, started after a pallet in the dye house caught fire shortly before 5.30pm.

Water from the automatic sprinkler system caused two chemicals to mix and ignite - creating a cloud of toxic gases.

As the chemical cloud hovered above the single-storey mill on John Williams Street, workers were evacuated.

Nearby businesses were advised to close up and residents ordered to stay indoors while police cordoned off roads leading to the mill and diverted traffic.

A woman working at a chip shop opposite the mill was overcome by fumes and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Although firefighters wearing protective suits brought the blaze under control, it took three hours for the area to be declared safe.

The brigade's hazardous chemicals advisor, Odsal Station Commander Allan Jones, said: "When the sprinkler system went off two substances reacted and caused about 1,000 kilograms of chemicals to catch fire.

"That, in turn, released a cloud of toxic gases. Our main concern was the safety of workers, residents and businesses.

"The actual fire was relatively small. Firefighters wearing protective chemical suits were sent in with thermal imaging cameras to check for any hot spots.

"The fumes created by the chemical reaction were highly toxic. Fortunately the wet and windy weather conditions helped clear the gas cloud."

As things returned to normal and police re-opened the roads local businesses were left counting the cost of the incident.

Anne-Marie Higgins, the licensee of the Crown Pub which is next to the mill's dye house. said: "At first I thought it was steam or fog. Then all the fire engines arrived.

"The road has been closed for about three and a half hours and I've lost about £100 of trade."

She said it was the second time in six months there had been a chemical incident and she would now be seeking compensation from the firm.

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