A SPORTS centre in Basingstoke was evacuated this morning after reports of a chemical leak.

Fire crews were called to the Aquadrome at 8.45am this morning after reports that a member of staff had collapsed while working with chemicals in the health suite.

More than 30 customers and staff were evacuated from the building, and two male members of staff were taken to Basingstoke hospital as a precaution.

Ryan Thurman, station manager at Basingstoke fire station, said: “It came through to us as a hazardous material incident.

“What happened is one member of staff was working with a couple of chemicals and has been overcome by the fumes.”

He confirmed that the mixture of the chemicals produced chlorine gas, which led to the evacuation of the building.

Fire crews left the scene at around 12.40pm, but the Aquadrome remains closed until experts check the levels of the gas in the building.

For more on this story, see The Gazette on Thursday.