A TOXIC gas scare prompted Blackburn business units to be evacuated.

The owner of Anflex Engraving, unit 11, Carluke Street, Intack, arrived to work at 8am yesterday to find smoke pouring out of the premises.

Police evacuated two neighbouring businesses, and firefighters spent 90 minutes pumping the air clean.

The cause was found to be a piece of plastic which had got into a heated tank of copper sulphate.

Watch manager John Leach said: "There was a lot of toxic fumes coming from the unit.

"There does not seem to have been any danger to anyone."

Bill Murray, owner of Anflex, said he had retired and sold the business, and was de-commissioning the machinery.

He added: "For some reason a piece of plastic had found its way in which caused the fumes to come off.

"I must admit I was very impressed with the efficiency of the fire brigade and the police.

"It could have been worse but they handled it very professionally."