FIREFIGHTERS and police were called out to assist a lorry driver in Evesham after battery acid was spilt when he had to stop suddenly.

Officers were called to the A46 Twyford at the junction with the A44 just before 3.30pm today by the driver of a lorry carrying batteries.

They asked firefighters for assistance and crews from Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich, and environmental protection units from Stourport and Hereford, attended the scene.

They discovered the batteries had tipped over when the driver had to brake suddenly and acid had begun to leak out of them.

Firefighters imposed a 25 metre cordon and the area was decontaminated.

The lorry driver was treated by paramedics at the scene for acid burns to his hands before he was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Crews left at 5.15pm and the lorry was recovered soon after.