MORE than 20 staff were taken to hospital in a fleet of ambulance this morning after a chemical spillage at a Kent distribution centre. The incident happened at about 7am at the warehouse of ANC, a parcel distribution firm in Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne.

The plant employs about 30 people and they had to be evacuated as a precaution when about five litres of the chemical dichloromethane was spilled.

Firefighters from Swale were called to the scene and ambulances from across North Kent were brought in to take those affected to the Medway Maritime Hospital.

Many of those taken to hospital were treated for inhalation of fumes and skin irritations but it is understood no one was seriously hurt.

A spokesman for the fire brigade said chemical experts decontaminated the building.

It is not yet known how the spillage occurred and no one at the company was available for comment.