HOPSPITAL staff and residents were temporarily evacuated after an oxygen leak at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

A road close to the hospital was sealed off while emergency services attended.

A gas cloud covered the area as a result of the leaking liquid oxygen, which was being delivered to the hospital at the time of the incident.

Fire crews were called to assist with the leak, which happened at around 10.40am, yesterday, along with police and Health and Safety inspectors.

A hospital spokesman confirmed that the leak occurred during a delivery by a British Oxygen Company (BOC).

Firefighters worked to stop the leak spreading and set up 100m and 200m cordons, affecting around 15 houses.

Watch manager at Exeter's Middlemoor fire station, Dave Cogger, said: "The incident was caused by a broken pipe on a tanker containing liquid oxygen.

"It was leaking the oxygen in the form of a gas cloud.

"We initially set up a 100m cordon in the area, which included several properties in Bovemoor Lane.

"While we waited for the BOC engineer to arrive, we tried to contain the leak by using damp towels to soak up the oxygen and a water spray to disperse the gas cloud.

"We extended the cordon to 200m, which included the hospital laundry and sterilising unit."

He added: "Our concerns were for the safety of members of the public, which is why we shut the road down and evacuated as far as deemed necessary.

"There was no real threat from the liquid oxygen as it is safe to breathe in. The only potential harm would have been if it had come into contact with a naked flame, which would have increased its burning."

A spokesman for the RD&E said: "The trust can confirm that on Thursday a major liquid oxygen leak occurred at our Wonford Site adjacent to Bovemoors Lane.

"The incident took place during a standard oxygen delivery by a BOC (British Oxygen Company) driver to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

"Following the incident, the appropriate safety procedures and assessments were carried out and the liquid oxygen was contained.

"As a precautionary measure, local residents of Bovemoors Lane and hospital staff in adjacent buildings were temporarily evacuated to allow engineers to resolve the problem.

"The trust has contingency plans in place for these types of incidents to ensure that frontline services are not affected, that protect patients, staff and local residents are protected and to ensure the hospital oxygen supply remains secure.

"The trust can confirm that at no point were patients, staff or residents put at risk."

An HSE spokesman said: "We were informed by the emergency services about an oxygen leak at the RD&E in Exeter.

"We sent two inspectors to the scene and are now waiting to hear what the latest is on the situation.

"It is too early to say whether there will be an investigation into the incident at this stage."

The Echo was unable to speak to anyone at BOC for comment.