MULTIPLE people have been rushed to hospital after inhaling hazardous fumes at a hotel.

Two chemicals were accidentally mixed together to create chlorine gas at Solent Hotel and Spa in Whiteley.

Emergency services were called at around 8.45pm on Monday (August 23) after a number of guests had been overcome by fumes.

Ambulance crews took 24 of them to hospital.

Firefighters from Hightown, Fareham, Cosham, Portchester, St Mary’s and Romsey worked alongside paramedics and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) began immediate emergency care, set up a casualty handling area, and requested the ambulance service to attend.

A ventilation fan was used to clear the fumes and firefighters took the vessel containing chemicals to fresh air. Gas monitors were used to check that the scene was safe.

Station Manager, Dave Graham, said: “This was a large-scale incident with multiple people requiring medical treatment for the inhalation of gas.

“We worked well alongside our colleagues from SCAS and SCAS HART to make sure that everyone received the help they needed and to ensure that the scene was made safe.

“We handed the incident over to the hotel management.”

A spokesperson for the hotel said: "We can confirm that an incident occurred within the spa and fitness areas of the Solent Hotel and Spa last night.

"Our main priority is our guests’ and team members’ health and wellbeing and we temporarily evacuated the hotel. We are pleased to say that the hotel is open and the spa and fitness facilities re-opened as normal this morning.

"We thank you for your understanding and support at this time and look forward to welcoming you soon."