STAFF at Holmer Green Senior School had to be evacuated this afternoon after a chemical spillage.

A small amount of an unidentified liquid chemical was spilled, and there were fears fumes could affect staff and pupils at the school.

Firefighters were called to the school, in Parish Piece, Holmer Green, and staff were evacuated as a precaution.

The school's deputy headteacher, Mike Jones, said: "It was in a fume cupboard in preparation for a science lesson. There was a small spillage of a chemical reported to the head of science, who thought of the safety implications.

"We didn't want to take chances and we didn't want members of staff and certainly no pupils anywhere near it."

Mr Jones added the incident occurred near the end of the day when pupils were starting to go home.