THREE people were injured when a chemical reaction released toxic fumes into a laboratory yesterday afternoon. 

The alarm was raised at about 2.30pm and emergency services rushed to Oxford Science Park to find a chemical reaction had released dangerous fumes into Oxford Nanopore Technology's offices.

Fire crews from Oxford, Kidlington and Abingdon made the area safe and began an emergency clean up procedure while police cordoned off the office at Edmund Cartwright House in Robert Robinson Avenue.

A total of 35 firefighters wearing gas tight protective suits and using specialist hazardous materials equipment spent nearly nine hours mopping up and containing the chemicals.

The toxic and corrosive fumes were believed to have been released after an accident involving an acid and alcohol.

Zoe McDougall, spokeswoman for Oxford Nanopore Technologies, said: "There was a minor accident in one of our laboratories yesterday.

"Three people were checked at hospital and then discharged. We are grateful to the emergency services for their thorough investigation of the laboratory before our staff were allowed back in the building, and apologise for any inconvenience to our neighbours on the science park."

Watch Manager Sean Mienie, from Rewley Road, said: "This has taken some time to clear up, but with incidents like this we need to be careful not to expose ourselves or others to these chemicals."

While three people from the molecular research firm were injured South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman Gill Hodgetts said only two were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Station Manager Jim Davies from Abingdon praised his crews for quickly sealing off the building and containing the chemical leak.

He added: "This shows the diversity of incidents that we attend and the range of skills that modern day fire fighters have to possess, the crews worked really hard, I’m really proud of them."