Express check-out

SEALED off . . . the Huddersfield Road store

Chemicals in car boot force shoppers to flee

A BUSY supermarket was forced to evacuate shoppers after chemicals exploded in a car boot parked outside.

The drama unfolded outside the Netto store in Huddersfield Road, Oldham, at noon on Saturday.

A couple, who had been shopping inside, were en-route to the tip where they planned to dump the hazardous load.

But they called emergency services after returning to their brand new Renault Megane to find vapours escaping from the boot. Police and fire engines sealed off the store as staff remained inside.

Firefighters helped customers load their cars — at least 40 of them — with shopping in a bid to clear the car park. A specialist fire officer, trained to deal with hazardous materials, together with the North-West Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team were called in.

Incident commander John Lake, who is also the station commander at Chadderton Fire Station, said: “There were two chemicals in the boot, one was a polyester resin, and one was a hardener. Because they mixed together, but not correctly, there was quite a strong reaction and they gave off a lot of heat. A member of the public heard a pop and gasses were being given off, looking like smoke.

“The husband and wife were treated at the scene then taken to hospital, but only as a precaution. Firemen used breathing apparatus to remove the chemical into special drums, which mean they cannot leak. Basically, the car boot is now full of gloop which should have solidified but because the materials weren’t mixed correctly, it has not set solid.”

The chemicals and anything which came into contact with them was later disposed of by a specialist company from Leeds, and police arranged the removal of the car.

The three-hour incident involved three fire engines from Oldham and Chadderton. Witnesses said at least three ambulances were on the scene.

Among the first people to see what happened were Beth and William Whiting, and their mum Maggie Dougal, landlady of the Farmer’s Boy pub next to the supermarket.

Beth (10) said: “I came out and saw two fire engines and two police cars, and an ambulance went on the site. The car boot was open and there was a nasty burning smell.”

Maggie added: “Loads of people came out of Netto and the firemen packed their shopping in people’s car boots and shepherded them off car park.”

The store reopened at around 3.30pm.