Ten people have been injured after a suspected chlorine leak at a North East swimming pool.

The North East Ambulance Service, fire brigade and police were sent to Loftus Leisure Centre, near Redcar, at around 3pm on Tuesday.

A cordon has been set up around the area and people in hazmat suits have been seen entering.

Read more: Updated: Loftus leisure centre closed 'until further notice' after chlorine leak

Six people were taken to hospital because of breathing difficulties and people are advised to avoid the area.

Firefighter Craig Strike said: “What we believe is that there has been a release of a harmful substance which occurs sometimes with the chemicals which are used to clean the swimming pool.

"We've had four members of the public and two members of staff taken to hospital with breathing difficulties.

"They've now left the scene and now we're attempting to make the building safe and make sure there's no risk to people in the area."

A statement on the leisure centre's Facebook page confirmed it would be closed on Tuesday evening due to "unforeseen circumstances".

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We treated ten patients, all with breathing difficulties and we transported six of them to hospital."

Three people were taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and three were taken to Stockton's University Hospital of North Tees, the service confirmed.

A South Tees NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "Several patients have been transferred to James Cook University Hospital via Ambulance from Loftus Leisuire Centre after exposure to the chemical Chlorine.

“Out of those admitted one is stable and the others are comfortable. The hospital is open as normal.

“Some members of public may see ambulances being cleaned down, this is perfectly normal after transferring patients involved in chemical incidents.”

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