OIL DETERGENT SPARKS SCARE AT ROADSIDE
A Mysterious barrel leaking an unknown substance sparked mayhem on a busy roundabout. Fire-fighters, Surrey Police and chemical experts rushed to Reigate hill on Tuesday, September 9, following reports of a spillage on the approach to the M25. Eyewitness and Horley resident Keith Walter, 54, said:"They were very cautious at first.They wouldn't let me approach it and drivers going past were told to wind up their windows as a precaution." Surrey Fire confirmed the substance to be a non-hazardous detergent after inspection.
The emergency services were called to a busy roundabout on Tuesday following a spillage of an unknown substance. Fire-fighters, Police and chemical experts rushed to the scene before safely disposing of the leaking barrel, which turned out to contain detergent, that lay damaged by the side of the roundabout over the M25 at the top of Reigate Hill. Mirror chief photographer Keith Walter witnessed the incident on his way to work. He said "It was a bit strange really. I was driving up the carriageway when I saw a fire engine at the roundabout. I thought nothing of it at the time. However, as I got closer, I saw that there were three fire brigade cars there as well. 
Then Police arrived and there seemed to be something going on. The emergency services were very cautious at first. Two fire-fighters wearing breathing apparatus approached the barrel with a stick and turned it over before taking a picture of the label on it." Surrey fire sent two specialist Dorking based teams to the busy road junction 8 of the motorway - the environment protection and detection, identification and monitoring units. Keith added:"There was a period of about half-an-hour when they were deciding what to do next. They wouldn't let me approach it and drivers going past were told to wind up their windows as a precaution." A Surrey Fire spokesperson confirmed crews were making the scene safe from 11.29am to 1.20pm. " Two fire crews attended the roundabout on Reigate Hill at 11.29. We also sent two specialist units following reports a 25litre barrel had spilled an unknown substance on to the road. Fire-fighters surveyed the scene and identified the substance as mineral based oil cleaner. After checking the label on the barrel containing it, the liquid was confirmed as a non-hazardous detergent - a cleaning fluid." Reigate and Banstead Borough council were contacted and the authority sent workmen to dispose of it.Images and article courtesy of The Surrey Mirror
