Around 40 firefighters were called to a factory in Sheffield on Tuesday lunchtime after reports of potentially harmful fumes coming from a container.

Fire crews were called to the incident on Allen Street in Shalesmoor at around12:30.

A 50 metre cordon has been placed around the factory as a safety precaution and a handful of nearby commercial properties have been evacuated.

Firefighters wearing gas tights suits have entered the building and placed a metal lid on the container, believed to contain nitric acid, to prevent fumes from escaping. Fire crews remain at the scene (16:00) and are monitoring the situation closely, with the assistance of the site owners.