A CAR dealership and a hotel had to be evacuated after a potentially explosive chemical leaked onto a major Poole road.

Holes Bay Road was closed by police after the incident, which happened just after 5pm on Friday, while 10 fire engines were called to deal with the highly toxic substance.

The environment agency was also called in to help clear up the chemical, which would have exploded if it had come into contact with water, and the driver of the vehicle was taken to hospital after being overcome by fumes.

The leak happened at Jacksons Mercedes Benz dealership when a rented lorry arrived to collect some car body parts.

As the driver loaded the items into the vehicle, he realised the chemical, which he had previous-ly collected from Nuffield Indust-rial Estate in Poole, was leaking.

Tom Scott, managing director at Jacksons, said: "He was overcome by fumes and we took him to accident and emergency. The fire brigade was called and the next thing I knew there was fire, police and ambulance here and they closed off the road.

"We were told it was a chemical which could explode when it made contact with water.

"We had about 50 members of staff evacuated and I believe they evacuated the pub, restaurant and hotel next door to us, and Jacksons Direct, our used car co-operative across the road, was also evacuated."

Three members of staff from the dealership were also taken to hospital to ensure they were not suffering after inhaling fumes from the chemicals, while fire crews from Hamworthy, Poole, Wareham, Wimborne, West-bourne, Christchurch and Gilling-ham contained the substance into an oversized chemical drum.

The road was reopened just before 8.30pm.

First published: April 26