A CHEMICAL leak forced part of Ipswich port to be cordoned off today.The fire service were called just after 10am to the West Bank Terminals in Wherstead Road, to reports of an unknown substance leaking from a 20 gallon drum inside a lorry.

A CHEMICAL leak forced part of Ipswich port to be cordoned off today.

The fire service were called just after 10am to the West Bank Terminals in Wherstead Road, to reports of an unknown substance leaking from a 20 gallon drum inside a lorry.

A spokeswoman for the Suffolk Fire service said an officer went to assess the leak and called for backup just after 10.30am.

She said an unknown substance was leaking from a curtain sided articulated lorry trailer.

She said: "There are believed to be three separate substances. Decontamination has been set up and the area cordoned off."

Three appliances, two of which are specialist chemical appliances from headquarters and Haverhill were called.

The spokeswoman said there was also a control appliance from Felixstowe and a special chemical unit at the scene.

An initial report said sodium hydroxide, a highly corrosive substance also known as caustic soda, was among the chemicals that had leaked.

Ipswich police were made aware of the leak.

Robert Smith, Ipswich port manager for Associated British Ports, said staff had been moved away from the area but he was unable to confirm the extent of the leak.

"A small quantity of corrosive but not toxic chemical has leaked from a 20 gallon drum.

"The situation is under control. There should be no harm to the public and the Environment Agency have been called to the scene."