A CHEMICAL spill led to a hospital emergency department being closed for more than three hours after three contaminated men were admitted with burns.

Fire crews from Maidstone and Larkfield were called out to the incident, which happened on Quarry Wood Industrial Estate in St Michael’s Close, Aylesford, at around 8am on Saturday.

Staff at DHL postal delivery service were working at the depot when they came into contact with a chemical that had leaked from a package.

The chemical was an alkaline-based cleaning product, which spilled onto the three men’s hands, severely drying out their skin and causing burn-like symptoms.

The men were rushed to Maidstone Hospital and were treated for some breathing difficulties, due to inhaling the chemical, as well as burns to their hands.

The trio also had to be decontaminated, and Maidstone Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department was closed to the public to prevent cross-contamination.

Blue-light ambulance arrivals were redirected to their nearest emergency department, and members of the public were advised to contact their GP with any emergency needs.

The injured men were kept in for a short time, but were released the same day. Five other people had to be decontaminated at the depot, but nobody else was hurt.

Darren Yates, spokesman for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "We closed the A&E as a precautionary measure as we always do in incidents of this nature.

"The men are not believed to have been seriously hurt and have been treated appropriately."