A POLICEMAN was taken to hospital after coming into contact with a mystery chemical on an abandoned lorry in Kidderminster.

The unknown chemical splashed into the officer's eye as he searched the lorry on Captain's Pool Road.

He went to hospital for a check-up after the resin was cleaned from his eye.

Police were called to the scene after a concerned driver phoned about a potential accident on the road. The driver narrowly avoided hitting the lorry, whose tarpaulin was covering its rear lights.

Police were searching the lorry-load of rubbish on Saturday, December 22 at 9.30pm when the accident happened.

They called Kidderminster's fire crew, who donned protective clothing to sort through the rubbish. Firefighters found four 50-gallon barrels of the chemical thought to be light commercial waste.

The road was closed for 15 minutes while the investigation was carried out. There was no spillage on the road.

Anyone with information should call Kidderminster Police on 01562 820888.