A MAJOR chemical alert was sparked when an unmarked container fell off a wagon and started leaking white liquid -- until police realised they were dealing with milk!

An anonymous caller rang the police to say chemicals were leaking out of a plastic container in Heifer Lane near to the Horsfield roundabout in Colne at 4pm yesterday.

Police immediately called out the fire brigade to deal with a suspected chemical leak.

But nearby shopkeepers were milking the incident because they had seen the tractor and trailer which had dropped its load and knew the mysterious chemical was milk.

When Station Officer David Gilligan and two fire engines arrived he said the police were laughing. Mr Gilligan said: "They had found out that the 'chemical' was milk so I immediately called off the incident support unit which had been summoned from Accrington -- but a paramedic ambulance still turned up." Louise Fitzhugh, Communications Sgt at Burnley police station, said the farmer responsible was issued with a fixed penalty notice.

David Richard, manager of Whitesides Butchers, said: "When it dropped off the trailer everyone in the shop saw it and knowing it was milk we were laughing saying quick get a bucket and fill it up!

"I left to go to my other shop in Colne and then about 15 minutes later all hell broke loose and I heard the fire engines, then the ambulance and the police cars.

"We all had a good laugh about it."

Newsagent Colin Gates said: "One of my customers came in when it happened and said a container had fallen off the back of a tractor and then the police turned up.

"The milk was in a chemical-type container so it is understandable that they acted the way they did because it could have been anything."

Mr Gilligan said: "If milk gets into the water course then it can have an effect on fish so we swilled away what was there -- about 20 pints -- down the drain."