A leisure centre in Harold Hill has been temporarily closed after chemicals were found on site by firefighters.

London Fire Brigade were called to Central Park Leisure Centre in Gooshays Drive at 10.02pm yesterday (April 10).

Fire crews carried out a sweep of the building, run by Everyone Active, to check for “elevated readings of chemical substances”, the brigade said.

They ventilated the property after identifying chemicals in a bucket in the plant room.

Read More: St Andrews Church hall fire, Romford, pictures released

A man was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

Firefighters remained on site until 1.31am. Two fire engines and two fire rescue units from Harold Hill, Romford, Bexley and Bethnal Green fire stations attended the scene.

Following the incident, the leisure centre informed members that the site has been closed due to a “technical issue”.

The centre is expected to be shut until a health and safety check is carried out, the Recorder understands.

Everyone Active has been contacted for comment, and a spokesperson clarified that a staff member was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure due to exposure to these heightened chemicals and was subsequently discharged shortly after.