EMERGENCY services worked to clear a chemical spill on a busy city centre dual carriageway this morning.

Two fire crews and a chemical support unit raced to City Walls Road at 6.45am after a bag of lead chromate, which fell off the back of a lorry, began pouring on to the road.

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service said a concerned motorist had called after spotting the chemical gushing out of the bag.

"We immediately deployed two fire crews and a support unit which is standard procedure for a chemical spill," he said.

"Firefighters had to put on protective uniforms as we had no idea what it was," he said.

"Luckily, there was a number on the bag and we were able to contact the supplier quickly.

"He said the driver hadn't realised what had happened and told us it was lead chromate, which is used for road markings."

"We were able to clear it up before rush hour and it was done and dusted by 8'o'clock."

The stretch of road from the St Martin's Roundabout to Sidbury was closed for an hour as fire crews from Worcester's Red Watch and Droitwich worked to clear the spillage.

Worcester City Council contractors were also called to help at the scene.

Police diverted traffic and, at 8am, City Walls Road was re-opened.

Vicki Davies, Worcester police spokeswoman, said the ambulance service had been put on standby and the Environment Agency alerted to the incident.

"After the chemical had been cleared, the road remained partially blocked for half an hour," she said.