Three in hospital and 13 others injured after 'chemical incident' at Scottish Gas site

Three people are in hospital and 13 more were injured after a suspected chemical incident at a Scottish Gas site in Edinburgh.

Emergency services warned people to stay away from the Waterfront area of the city after being called at 5.15pm on Friday.

Police and paramedics raced to the Scottish Gas building, in Waterfront Avenue, and the surrounding roads were closed.

Three people were taken to hospital for further observation, officials said.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said 13 were treated at the scene for "minor illness".

He said: "We are working alongside our partners in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of this incident.

"We would ask people to avoid the Waterfront area while the emergency response is ongoing."

Multiple fire engines and ambulances could be seen outside the building.

In the wake of the incident, Edinburgh Police on Twitter said: "We received a report of a possible chemical incident within a Scottish Gas building in Waterfront Avenue around 5.15pm today.

"Please avoid the Waterfront area while our response is ongoing."

One onlooker, writing on Twitter, said: "Something serious happening at Scottish Gas building. Workers evacuated and apparently some taken ill. Alarm has been going off for two hours. Roads all closed around the area."