ONE woman had to be taken to hospital after inhaling a small amount of ammonia gas at a factory in Martley Road, near Worcester, today.

Around ten emergency vehicles were sent to the Vandemoortele Factory at around 12.16pm today after workers on site were forced to evacuate following an ammonia pump valve venting.

Richard Hopkins, the site manager, said: "Our engineers are working on replacing a water filter, which led to the pressurisation of an ammonia pump.

"The ammonia pump pressure relief valve vented, as it's designed to do, to atmosphere. People evacuated the building and one lady felt slightly unwell and she was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure."

The patient was conveyed by land ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

West Midlands Ambulance Service teams remained on site to asses the rest of the workers.

One fire crew were also in attendance along with police and around seven ambulance vehicles including the heart team and the hazard area response team.

The factory, which is located to the rear of the site in Martley Road, is part of an European food group manufacturing and selling food products.