A LUXURY Hampshire hotel had returned to normal today after a chemical emergency that saw dozens of guests evacuated.

Ten firefighters donned chemical protection suits to tackle the spill in a plant room in the leisure club of Norton Park Hotel, near Sutton Scotney, on Wednesday evening.

Three members of staff were affected by fumes and taken to hospital, but were released after treatment. 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-bed country hotel started at 6.35pm. Two members of staff helped a colleague out of the plant room, all three suffering the effects of inhaling the gas.

An investigation is under way, but hotel manager Andrew Mosley said human error looked to be the likely cause. He added: "The fire service have to take every precautionary measure they can.

"It was a small incident. None of the workers were overcome. The gas caused them to cough and struggle for breath."