A LEISURE centre will remain closed until further notice following a suspected chemical leak.

Six people are in hospital following the incident at Loftus Leisure Centre, near Redcar, yesterday.

A member of the emergency services was also treated at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough but has been discharged. 

A total of 10 people were understood to have been treated by paramedics at the incident.

Read more: Emergency services called to chemical leak at Loftus Leisure Centre

Seven people were taken to hospital following the incident.

Five people are in a “comfortable” condition and one person is “stable", a spokersperson for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said today. 

Emergency services were called to the leisure centre in Deepdale Road at about 3pm on Thursday to reports of a suspected chlorine leak,

Environmental health officers from Redcar and Cleveland Council are carrying out an investigation.

A spokesperson for Everyone Active, which runs the centre, said: “We can confirm Loftus Leisure Centre remains closed and an investigation is under way.

“Therefore, we are unable to provide further details at this stage.”

A post on its Facebook page added “Loftus Leisure Centre remains closed until further notice. We will be contacting any customers that have scheduled lessons/sessions that will be affected directly.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will of course keep you all updated accordingly.”

A South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: “Seven casualties were brought to The James Cook University Hospital including a member of the emergency services who was subsequently discharged.

"Of the remaining six casualties, five are comfortable and one is stable.”

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Council said: "The council is in dialogue with the operators of Loftus Leisure Centre which remains closed and our environmental health officers will be conducting an investigation."

Read more: Man 'deteriorates' after explosion in Whickham Street in Sunderland

Yesterday, 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."

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