Two people critical in Salisbury Hospital after exposure to 'unknown substance'

Two people are in a critical condition in hospital after they were thought to have been exposed to an "unknown substance" at a shopping centre.

Wiltshire Police said officers were alerted to concerns about the welfare of a man and woman at The Maltings in Salisbury on Sunday afternoon.

The pair were taken to Salisbury Hospital, which said on its website on Monday that it was dealing with a "major incident" and advised people not to attend its A&E department unless it was "extremely urgent".

Those with routine appointments should still attend, the hospital said, unless it had been in touch.

Firefighters were reportedly called to the shopping centre and hospital to decontaminate the areas.

Wiltshire Police said several locations in the town had been cordoned off while the matter was investigated.

"At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed and a multi-agency response has been co-ordinated," the force said.

Anyone concerned that they may have come into contact with the substance should contact NHS 111 for medical advice, it added.

A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said: "There doesn't appear to be any further immediate risk to public health.

"PHE understands that those exposed to the substances have been decontaminated, as is standard practice in situations like this.

"Scientists from PHE's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, will continue to assist the response and review information as it becomes available."

:: Anyone with information about the incident should call Wiltshire Police on 999 immediately.