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

The alarm was raised at 2.30pm on Tuesday 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 operation while police cordoned off the offices 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 dealing with the incident.

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

Watch manager Sean Mienie 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.

Abingdon station manager Jim Davies 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 skills that modern day firefighters have to possess. The crews worked really hard. I’m proud of them.”

Oxford Nanopore spokeswoman Zoe McDougall said all the staff have been discharged from hospital after the accident.

She added: “There was a minor accident in one of our laboratories. We are grateful to the emergency services for their thorough investigation before our staff were allowed back in the building and apologise for any inconvenience to our neighbours on the science park.”