Police close off roads after 'chemical incident' in south London

Nearby residents rushed to hospital with nausea and vomiting

Five fire engines, paramedics and police were all deployed to deal with the incident (LAS_HART/Twitter)

There are fears of a chemical incident in south London after residents were rushed to hospital with nausea and vomiting.

Emergency services were called to Alwold Crescent in Lee amid fears locals may have suffered an allergic reaction.

Witnesses said a number of people suffered a reaction to an unknown substance.

Five fire engines, paramedics and police were all deployed to deal with the incident.

Residents in four houses on the crescent were asked to leave their homes at around 11.30am and a cordon was erected.

Wayne Higgins, 50, told the Press Association he and his neighbours had been feeling unwell for the last few days.

"The fire brigade have been here checking if there are chemicals or toxins. For the moment we don't know when we will be allowed back in - not until they find out the cause of the problem.

"We just assumed everyone had a cold or something was going round."

Mr Higgins said they didn't start thinking it was a gas leak until Saturday evening.

Kevin Dobbins, 31, who was also asked to leave his home, said: "I haven't smelled anything or felt the effects myself. I know there were neighbours who were experiencing sickness and those who were smelling gas a few days ago.

"They did pull us all together and had a meeting with us saying you will have to leave the area and it could be throughout the night and in to tomorrow.

"They are still uncertain. They have done checks and they've ruled out a few different things.

"They believe it could be a small gas leak."

Taxi driver Ian Crouch, 39, told The Sun emergency services appeared to be investigating the sewage system.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the incident was not believed to be crime-related and the investigation is being led by the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

A spokeswoman for the London Fire Brigade said: "We were called to the smell of chemicals and we've swept the area to check for raised levels [of gas or chemicals].

"We haven't found any raised levels and we are handing over to the gas board."

Representatives for Thames Water were also on the scene, but the cause of the alleged chemical incident is still unknown.