MAIDSTONE Hospital's A&E department and parts of Yalding were sealed off last night after a chemical scare.

Police officers and an ambulance crew were taken to hospital after they responded to an emergency call in the village at about 11.30pm.

A man in his 30s called police from a phonebox in Lees Road after he became covered in some sort of powder that caused serious skin irritation.

Because the man was badly disorientated, police still do not know how he came into contact with the substance, or where he is from. Yalding was sealed off from the Anchor public house to Benover Road.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent out a number of crews and a decontamination unit. All the affected police and ambulance crews were taken to Maidstone Hospital A&E which was shut off after fears that the powder might spread to others.

Leading firefighter Iain Gross, from Maidstone Fire Station, said it was a major incident. He added: "A man had found he had a substance on him that was causing blisters."

He said police and ambulance crews at the scene had to be treated at hospital after the incident.

He stressed: "Because the man was disorientated, the police were trying to ascertain what the substance was, where it had come from, and where else the man had been, but he didn't have many answers," he added.

Gemma Pettman, spokeswoman for Kent Police, said the man was suffering from a "burning sensation" to his skin.

She added: "There are certain precautions they have to follow at the hospital and A&E was closed while they dealt with the man. At the moment we do not know who he is or where he's come from, but there is no risk to public health and we don't want anyone to panic."

The A&E department re-opened at around 8.45am today.