EMERGENCY crews are currently cleaning up hazardous chemicals dumped in an alleyway in a town centre.

Police, fire crews and the council are currently at the scene where a dozen containers of toxic chemicals have been dumped in an alley off Knaresborough High Street, behind the Frazer Theatre.

One of the containers has started leaking and officers at the scene have cordoned off the area while specialists are called to remove the caustic substances.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “Twelve large containers were seemingly found in an alleyway. It was reported to us and the fire service went to the scene and were concerned it was a weak caustic liquid.

“We’re just in the process of trying to get it removed.”

The Northern Echo:

DUMPED: The chemicals found dumped near Knaresborough High Street Picture; PCSO Matt Murphy/@PCSO 3573

Nobody has been charged in connection with the incident, but police would now like to hear from anyone who may have information.

Police said while the chemicals could be harmful in contact with skin, they did not pose a wider danger to anyone.

The spokesperson said: “It looks like this incident involves fly-tipping and we will be looking into that side of things.

“If anybody has any information we would ask them to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.”