Mystery as call centre staff fall ill

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called out to offices at Brookfield’s Park on Manvers Industrial Estate after reports that people were falling ill with sickness and eye irritation.

Officers used specialist equipment to monitor the air quality inside the premises - but the cause of the illness could not be found.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire fire said: “Last night we attended a suspected chemical incident at Brookfield’s Park on Manvers Industrial Estate, Rotherham.

“Crews were called to offices at around 7.50pm to reports of people suffering the effects of nausea and eye irritation.

“Appliances attended from Dearne, Cudworth, Mansfield Road, Mosborough and Central stations.

“Fire and rescue officers entered the premises with equipment to monitor the air quality, after the building had been evacuated but found no materials that could have been the cause.

“We worked with our partners in the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, who are checked approximately 75 people over at the scene.

“Fire crews left the scene around 10.30pm.”