Shoppers evacuated after chemical reaction

Shoppers had to be evacuated from a number of stores after a chemical reaction took place

People had to be evacuated from several shops in a shopping centre in Essex due to a chemical reaction in a basement.

Firefighters from Essex and Cambridge were called to a retail unit in Terminus Street, Harlow, at 11:51 GMT on Thursday.

The chemical reaction was caused by roofing materials mixing together.

Nobody was harmed during the incident and the scene was made safe by 14:00 GMT.