A BIG chemical clean-up operation swung into action after containers carrying corrosive liquid leaked at a Strood industrial site.

Emergency crews spent more than eight hours yesterday at Knight's Business Park in Knight Road, Strood, evacuating staff from Asahi Logistics and clearing up the spill.

The leak was discovered by two men unloading a lorry from China which was carrying 18 200litre drums of an A class corrosive acid. It was after they complained of nausea that ambulance and fire crews were alerted to the industrial estate shortly before 11am.

Paramedics treated the men for possible skin contamination and they were taken to hospital. The men, believed to be in their late 30s, were discharged a few hours later.

The firm insisted today the spill had been minor. Don Parnell, company director of Asahi Logistics, said: "It was a vinegar concentrate - a class A liquid, but then again Mr Muscle is a class A, it won't blow up. We advised the fire brigade we would deal with it. There was no immediate danger and risks were very minor.