TWO cleaners were hurt after a chemical scare closed part of Banbury for six hours today.

The men suffered severe skin irritations and vomiting after coming into contact with powder leaking from a drum at the rear of Specsavers opticians at about 9.15am.

They were treated in a decontamination unit before being taken to the Horton Hospital for treatment. The men, who have not been named, were later allowed home.

The NCP car park near Matalan and part of the town's George Street were cordoned off for more than six hours.

Firefighters wearing chemical suits tackled the spillage, later identified as Columbia Resin - a by-product of a lens-making process used by Specsavers.

The fire service and officers from the Environment Agency were tonight in talks with Specsavers on how to clear away the powder because it could not be washed down the drains.