Beachy Head Lighhouse is surrounded by mist near Eastbourne, Britain August 27, 2017 in this picture obtained from Social Media. Mandatory credit: Louisa Neale via REUTERS

(Reuters) - Police issued a warning on Sunday after chemical “haze” left up to 50 people on Britain’s south coast suffering irritation to their eyes and throats.

Sussex police urged people to keep doors and windows shut in the affected area, between the resort town of Eastbourne and Birling Gap, a few miles along the coast.

Police also warned people to stay away from the beaches, on a busy public holiday weekend.

The haze seems to have been coming in from the sea but the source has not been established, the statement said.</s>Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Kyle Crickmore fled the beach with his family after they started feeling unwell

About 150 people have been treated in hospital and hundreds more affected by an unknown gas which hit the East Sussex coast.

Birling Gap beach was evacuated on Sunday after people reported breathing difficulties, stinging eyes and vomiting when a "mist" appeared.

Sussex Police said on Monday morning the gas cloud appeared to have cleared.

Agencies are investigating the cause and have not ruled out either on-shore or off-shore locations.

Image copyright Eddie Mitchell Image caption The advice to keep windows and doors shut in affected areas has now been withdrawn

In the past, chemicals have drifted across from European industrial units, but Sussex Police said: "Weather models suggest that an onshore source in northern France is very unlikely."

The Coastguard said it was working with its French counterparts and looking into vessels that were in the area at the time.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it was "extremely unlikely" the substance involved was chlorine.

Image copyright Gareth Fuller/PA Image caption People had been arriving at Birling Gap to enjoy the Bank Holiday weather

Beaches in the area were open as normal on Monday and thousands were expected to flock to the coast as temperatures reach up to 25C (75F).

Jonathan Hill, 28, who lives close to Birling Gap beach, said people had begun arriving at the beach on Monday although "it's maybe a bit less busy than usual".

He said he returned from holiday with his girlfriend at about 16:30 BST on Sunday and immediately began to suffer.

Chlorine fears

He said: "We got home, threw open the windows to air the house and quickly developed stingy eyes. At one point I couldn't see for about five minutes."

Bob Jefferey, of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Eastbourne Division said: "Whatever it was, it smelled like burnt plastic.

"It hung about and didn't move yesterday because there was no wind."

The first reports on Sunday came in from Birling Gap, between Eastbourne and Seaford, just before 17:00 BST where people reported having irritated eyes.

The plume of gas moved eastwards along the coast as far as Bexhill, police said.

Coastguard rescue teams from Birling Gap, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Newhaven raced to help clear the busy beaches as visitors feared they had been struck by a chlorine leak.

Image copyright Eddie Mitchell Image caption Police, fire and ambulance services raced to the scene after reports of a "chemical haze"

Roy Page, from East Peckham, Kent, was on the beach at the time when what appeared to be a sea mist rolled in from the west.

He described it as a colourless, odourless, mist that was "seriously painful on the eyes".

Kyle Crickmore, who was at the Birling Gap beach with his family, said it emptied within 10 minutes after people began to feel unwell.

"It was definitely out of the ordinary considering it was a nice, clear, sunny day 10 minutes beforehand," he added.

"It was stupidly busy and it was a boiling hot day.

"It emptied in about 10 minutes, which was quite staggering considering the amount of people who were there."

Image copyright Eddie Mitchell Image caption Beachgoers were checked over at Eastbourne General District Hospital

Long queues built up at Eastbourne General District Hospital well into the evening, with approximately 150 people being treated, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said.

"Initially, patients were dealt with as a precaution with a full decontamination treatment, but it became clear that this was not necessary, following clinical advice," a spokesman said.

Members of the public alerted emergency services, which triggered callouts to the UK Coastguard, Sussex Police, South Eastern Ambulance Service and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, who said they were treating it as a "chemical incident".

Affected people took to Twitter to report their experiences:

Dan Sankey wrote on Twitter: "Beautiful afternoon at Birling Gap cut short by some weird mist, burning everyone's eyes which led to the beach and cliff being evacuated."

People were advised to wash their eyes if they were irritated and to wash all over with plenty of soap and water to decontaminate their bodies.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust added: "If you were affected and after taking the precautions recommended you still feel ill, contact 111 for advice and only visit your local A&E if you are still suffering significant effects."

Image copyright Eddie Mitchell Image caption Initially, patients were dealt with as a precaution with a full decontamination treatment

Police said it was believed that this was an "isolated incident and is not expected to recur".

Eastbourne councillor Kathy Ballard said: "We need to find out the cause, where did this come from, and to make sure that steps are taken so that it does not happen again.

"I have not heard of it happening before in this area."</s>London: Police issued a warning on Sunday after chemical "haze" left up to 50 people on Britain's south coast suffering irritation to their eyes and throats.

Sussex police urged people to keep doors and windows shut in the affected area, between the resort town of Eastbourne and Birling Gap, a few kilometres along the coast.

Police also warned people to stay away from the beaches, on a busy public holiday weekend.

The haze seems to have been coming in from the sea but the source has not been established, the statement said.</s>Up to 50 people at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, initially reported irritation to their eyes and throats, Sussex Police said, and health authorities later confirmed 233 people are being treated in hospital.

Emergency services have cleared the area and told people living along the coast from Eastbourne to Birling Gap to avoid beaches and shut their windows and doors.</s>What police suspect to be Chlorine is causing problems with people’s eyes and throats.

A ‘haze’ that is causing discomfort for people along the coast from Eastbourne to Birling Gap has prompted emergency services to warn people to stay away from the beaches and to keep doors and windows closed if living near the coast.

Emergency services were called just before 5pm today to Birling Gap, where up to 50 people have been affected.

The source of the haze has not yet been established, but a police spokesman said it is believed to be Chlorine.

People are receiving medical attention and the area is being cleared.

People living along the coast in the area have been advised to keep doors and windows shut and to move away from the Birling Gap area in particular.

The fire service earlier confirmed there are ‘many casualties’ at Birling Gap as they deal with an ‘environmental issue’.

Dawn Whittaker, from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Public warned to avoid Birling Gap area as emergency Services dealing with potential environmental issue, many casualties.”

Kyle Crickmore, at the scene, said: “Some sort of chemical incident at Birling Gap, eyes are streaming and there’s a strong smell of Chlorine in the air.”

Gary Topley told the Eastbourne Herald, “Just not long back left Birling Gap. Apparent chemical leak. Those on the beach were more or less left to tell each other as word got round of chemical leak. Eyes were watering and throat burning.”

Are you at Birling Gap? Can you tell us what is happening?

If it is safe to do so, email eastbourne.herald@jpress.co.uk or call 01903 282306.</s>The fire service has confirmed there are ‘many casualties’ at Birling Gap as they deal with an ‘environmental issue’.

Eyewitnesses are reporting a ‘chemical incident’ at Birling Gap, with some describing breathing difficulties.

Police and fire services are at the scene.

Dawn Whittaker, from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Public warned to avoid Birling Gap area as Emergency Services dealing with potential environmental issue, many casualties.”

Kyle Crickmore, at the scene, said: “Some sort of chemical incident at Birling Gap, eyes are streaming and there’s a strong smell of Chlorine in the air.”

Gary Topley told the Eastbourne Herald, “Just not long back left Birling Gap. Apparent chemical leak. Those on the beach were more or less left to tell each other as word got round of chemical leak. Eyes were watering and throat burning.”</s>Up to 50 people are suffering breathing difficulties after a mystery 'chlorine' mist crept across the sea towards Beachy Head this afternoon.

Emergency services evacuated the area after bank holiday makers complained of sore eyes and throats after a "mist" appeared on the beach.

Police ordered people to stay away form the area and told nearby residents to keep their doors and windows closed after an 'unknown haze (was spotted) coming in from the sea.'

Witnesses claimed there was a smell of “chlorine” in the air at the beauty spot in East Sussex, with one saying it 'stung their noses.'

Coastguard UK confirmed they have been ushering people from the beach.

Twitter user Sameer Jadhav said: "Birling Gap some weird gas leak. People crying. Ambulances called. Don't go to Birling Gap at the moment."

Dan Sankey also wrote on Twitter : "Beautiful afternoon at Birling Gap cut short by some weird mist, burning everyone's eyes which led to the beach and cliff being evacuated."

Another witness, Jonathan Hill said: "Thought it was hay fever to start with until we were told to close all windows and doors just now! BeachyHead and birlinggap evacuated."

Gold Mojito wrote: "Being evacuated from Birling Gap eyes streaming can't breathe properly not exactly what I was hoping for.

"Really weird eyes streaming and coughing. It looked like a mist coming in."

A spokeswoman from Coastguard UK said crew members were assisting East Sussex Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Sussex Police said: "A 'haze' that is causing discomfort for people along the coast from Eastbourne to Birling Gap has prompted emergency services to warn people to stay away from the beaches and to keep doors and windows closed if living near the coast.

"People living along the coast in the area have been advised to keep doors and windows shut and to move away from the Birling Gap area in particular."</s>More than 100 people have been treated in hospital after a suspected chemical leak along the East Sussex coast.

Birling Gap beach was evacuated on Sunday after people reported breathing difficulties, stinging eyes and vomiting when a "mist" appeared.

Eastbourne District General Hospital says it has treated 133 people.

Investigations are under way into the cause of the "chemical haze", which was currently unknown, Sussex Police said.

A spokesman said the first report came in just before 17:00 BST where "up to 50 people had been affected by irritation to eyes and throats".

Six people initially went to hospital with minor symptoms, but as of Sunday night 133 patients were being "decontaminated" at hospital, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said.

Coastguard rescue teams from Birling Gap, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Newhaven raced to help clear the busy beaches as visitors feared they had been struck by a chlorine leak.

Kyle Crickmore, who was at the Birling Gap beach with his family, said it emptied in 10 minutes after people began to feel unwell.

He described how a "foggy haze rolled in out of nowhere" and there was a "strong smell of chlorine in the air".

"It was definitely out of the ordinary considering it was a nice clear sunny day 10 minutes beforehand," he said.

"It was stupidly busy and it was a boiling hot day.

"It emptied in about 10 minutes, which was quite staggering considering the amount of people who were there."

Members of the public alerted emergency services, which triggered call-outs to the UK Coastguard, Sussex Police, South Eastern Ambulance Service and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, who said they were treating it as a "chemical incident".

The RNLI said that "possibly some kind of gaseous fumes" had drifted over and a significant number of people on cliff tops had been struck down with symptoms including irritation, sore eyes and vomiting.

Dan Sankey wrote on Twitter: "Beautiful afternoon at Birling Gap cut short by some weird mist, burning everyone's eyes which led to the beach and cliff being evacuated."

The beachfront is a popular hot spot for tourists and locals on bank holidays.

People living along the coast have been advised to keep windows and doors shut since the incident.

UK Coastguard commander Steve Carson said: "This seems to have been caused by an unknown haze coming in from the sea, but the source has not yet been established."

Eastbourne councillor Kathy Ballard said: "We need to find out the cause, where did this come from, and to make sure that steps are taken so that it does not happen again.

"I have not heard of it happening before in this area."

The National Trust, which owns the land and has a cafe and visitor centre there, said it was aware of the incident and was working with the emergency services.

The hospital initially said it had treated 233 people, but later revised the number to 133.</s>Hundreds of people have been treated in hospital after a suspected chemical leak along the East Sussex coast.

Birling Gap beach was evacuated on Sunday after people reported breathing difficulties, stinging eyes and vomiting when a "mist" appeared.

Eastbourne District General Hospital says it has treated 233 people.

Investigations are under way into the cause of the "chemical haze", which was currently unknown, Sussex Police said.

The "unknown haze coming in from the sea" was affecting the East Sussex coastline, the force said.

A police spokesman said the first report came in just before 17:00 BST where "up to 50 people had been affected by irritation to eyes and throats".

Six people initially went to hospital with minor symptoms, but as of Sunday night 223 patients were being "decontaminated" at hospital, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said.</s>Emergency services have warned people along the East Sussex coast to keep doors and windows closed after a chemical 'haze' descended on beach goers.

Sussex Police said an unknown "haze" coming from the sea had left up to 50 people along the coast from Eastbourne to Birling Gap with irritation to their eyes and throats.

East Sussex Fire and Rescure Service said the "chemical incident" was ongoing.

The first calls were made to the emergency services just before 5pm.The cause of the haze is currently unknown.

The RNLI said that "possibly some kind of gaseous fumes" had drifted over the scene and a significant number of people on cliff tops had been struck down with symptoms including irritation, sore eyes and vomiting.

Fears from the coastguard that people could be trapped on the beach saw the RNLI launch all-weather lifeboats from Eastbourne and Newhaven to the Birling Gap area.

There was a doctor on board the Eastbourne lifeboat.

A spokesman said: "We have been checking along the shoreline to try and ensure that everyone is safe."

He said a "plume" had drifted across the area bringing "some sort of substance" with it which seemed to affect a number of people.Police said the source of the haze has not yet been established.

A spokesman said: "This seems to have been caused by an unknown haze coming in from the sea.

"Emergency services are treating people at Birling Gap and clearing the area.

"People living along the coast in the area have been advised to keep doors and windows shut and to move away from the Birling Gap area in particular."
Police issued a warning and evacuation orders after a unknown chemical "haze" leaves over 200 people on Britain's south coast, between the towns of Eastbourne and Birling Gap, suffering irritation to their eyes and throats.