A LUXURY Hampshire hotel was at the centre of a chemical emergency last night.

Ten firefighters donned chemical protection suits to deal with the spill in a plant room in the leisure club at the Norton Park Hotel near Sutton Scotney, north of Winchester.

Three members of staff were affected by fumes and taken by ambulance to hospital but released after treatment later in the evening.

Four others were treated at the scene, said a fire service spokesman.

Forty bedrooms near the club were evacuated as a precaution and guests gathered in the hotel bar.

The incident at the four-star 185-bedroom country hotel started at about 6.35pm.

Two members of staff helped the first worker out of the plant room and all three suffered the effects of inhaling the gas.

Hotel general manager Andrew Mosley said today an investigation had been launched. "It was a small chlorine-type chemical spillage, about half a cup. We are still ascertaining whether it was a staff error or a problem with equipment. It was most likely human error.

"The fire service were excellent, first class. They have to consider the worst case scenario. I can understand why they reacted as they did. They have to take every precautionary measure they can.

"It was a small incident. None of them were overcome. That is too strong a word. It caused them to cough and struggle for breath."