Fire crews were called to the site, in Gipping Way, after a member of staff noticed a problem with the 205 litre drum of styrene at 8.30am.

The plant was sealed off and all non-essential workers sent home while firefighters isolated the barrel and monitored its heat.

Karl Rolfe, Babergh district commander for the fire service, said: "The reaction has the potential to give off explosive gases.

"Potentially it could be serious, but as long as it doesn't catch fire, we can make the environment safe."

A specialist chemical unit from Haverhill was on standby at the scene, along with crews from Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Needham Market and Elmswell.

Precautionary measures were taken as the gas given off by the reaction in the drum could be highly volatile and a decontamination unit was set up on site.

Assistant divisional officer Rolfe said: "If there was an explosion and fire, it is a big site we have got to deal with."

A second drum of an unknown liquid was also discovered at the incident but both were taken out into the open air.

The barrerls were immersed into water-filled containers to cool and later packed in sand.

The incident was over by 11.30am.


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