A HAMPSHIRE hotel was evacuated this morning because of a suspected chlorine leak.

Firefighters from Winchester Fire Station rushed to Winchester Hotel & Spa in Worthy Lane to deal with the incident.

Guests say six fire engines and three ambulances were at the scene at 6.45am.

Dad-of-two Mark Arnold,44,from Woking was visiting the hotel with his family.

Mr Arnold said: "The incident was in the spa which is now closed.

"Everyone was outside and all just huddled around and the hotel staff kept us up to date with everything that was happening and looked after us."

A letter to guests by manager of the hotel Paul Eaves explained the reason for the evacuation.

It stated in the letter:"This morning at around 6.45am, the chlorine gas alarm in our pool plant room sounded. As you will understand,any alarm be it a house burglar alarm,car alarm,fire alarm etc can activate without due cause, and in fact most alarm soundings turn out to be a false alarm.

However, due to the serious nature of chlorine gas ( if it turned out to be a genuine alarm),we had no alternative other than to assume this was a genuine alarm and consequently to carry out an immediate evacuation of the building.

Whilst investigations into the cause of the alarm continue we have of course now been allowed back into the hotel by the Fire Authority as it has been deemed safe for us to do so."