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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Birling Gap beach evacuated after suspected chemical leak | Birling Gap beach evacuated after suspected chemical leak |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Emergency services have evacuated a beach in Sussex after a suspected chemical leak. | Emergency services have evacuated a beach in Sussex after a suspected chemical leak. |
| People on the beach at Birling Gap reported painful, stinging eyes and breathing difficulties after a "mist" appeared. | People on the beach at Birling Gap reported painful, stinging eyes and breathing difficulties after a "mist" appeared. |
| Sussex Police said there was an "unknown haze coming in from the sea" affecting the East Sussex coastline. | Sussex Police said there was an "unknown haze coming in from the sea" affecting the East Sussex coastline. |
| Surrounding roads have been closed and the public is being advised to avoid the area. | Surrounding roads have been closed and the public is being advised to avoid the area. |
| A police spokesman said the first report came in just before 17:00 BST where "up to 50 people had been affected by irritation to eyes and throats". | A police spokesman said the first report came in just before 17:00 BST where "up to 50 people had been affected by irritation to eyes and throats". |
| Emergency services are treating people at Birling Gap and clearing the surrounding area. | Emergency services are treating people at Birling Gap and clearing the surrounding area. |
| People are being warned to stay away from the beaches from Birling Gap to Eastbourne and to keep doors and windows closed if living on the nearby coast. | |
| 'Stinging' | |
| Roy Page was on the beach when it happened. | |
| He told BBC South East Today: "It was like a mist coming down the beach from the west. Over a period of about 30-35 seconds I started to itch my eyes and so did other people. | |
| "Within about two or three minutes my wife really started to itch badly because she has had some operations and they [her eyes] were stinging. | |
| "Suddenly everyone around started getting up and either putting sea water on their eyes or dropping water on their eyes to clear it out." | |
| The RNLI said a significant number of people on cliff tops had been struck down with symptoms including irritation, sore eyes and vomiting. | |
| Concerns that people could be trapped on the beach saw the RNLI launch lifeboats to the area, including one with a doctor on board. | |
| A spokesman said: "We have been checking along the shoreline to try and ensure that everyone is safe." | |
| He said a "plume" had drifted across the area bringing "some sort of substance" with it. | |
| The source of the "haze" has not yet been established. | The source of the "haze" has not yet been established. |
| The National Trust, which owns the land and has a cafe and visitor centre there, said it was aware of the incident and was working with the emergency services. | |
| People on Twitter have reported the mist smelled of chlorine. | People on Twitter have reported the mist smelled of chlorine. |
| Were you caught up in the suspected chemical leak? Share your pictures, video and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
| Or use the form below |