An investigation is to be held after an orange gas was was released from a North East chemical plant.

Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade both attended the CF Fertilisers plant on Haverton Hill in Billingham this afternoon(Friday, May 24).

After attending the "small release of a gas” from the facility, they later confirmed the incident was cleared and there were no "off-site implications" or further risk to the public.

The Northern Echo:

A spokesperson for CF Fertilisers said the incident stemmed from one of its nitric acid plants, and confirmed a full investigation will be launched.

They said: "At approximately 12.20 pm today, there was an incident at one of the Billingham Complex’s nitric acid plants that resulted in a release of nitrous oxide. 

"The plant’s safety system worked as designed and the plant was shut down safely, stopping the release within five minutes.

"The incident is over and there is no risk to the public.

"A full investigation of the incident will follow."

The Northern Echo: Emergency services attended incident earlier today after orange gas was released from CF

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: “Emergency services have attended the site of a fertiliser company in Haverton Hill this lunchtime after reports of an industrial incident involving the small release of a gas from the facility."

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After confirming that the gas was dissipating, the spokesperson added: “There are no reports of any injuries to anyone and there are no off-site implications or further risk to the public.”

Residents had earlier reported hearing a loud "explosion" but this was later confirmed to be the plant’s safety system.