Investigators have confirmed “contaminated packaging” which sent four people to hospital was the cause of a double Swindon school evacuation.

Pupils and staff at both Brimble Hill Primary School and the neighbouring Uplands School, on Tadpole Lane in Blunsdon St Andrew, were evacuated after reports of a “chemical smell” shortly before 9am on Wednesday morning.

Investigators have now identified contaminated packaging within an IT room at Brimble Hill as the cause of the issues and deemed both schools safe to reopen.

Four people were taken to hospital after coming into close proximity with the packaging and suffering “reported symptoms.”

Swindon Advertiser:

They have all now been discharged and their condition was described as not serious.

The incident sparked a thorough investigation by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service, aided by a specialist technical support team from Avon Fire and Rescue Service, which lasted throughout the day.

But their response has now been scaled back.

On Wednesday evening a spokesperson for the service said: “Avon Fire And Rescue Service specialist technical support team have carried out extensive checks of the two schools affected and we can now confirm they are deemed safe and both schools have been reopened.

“The cause is believed to have been from some contaminated packaging within an IT room at Brimble Hill and only four people who were in close proximity with this packaging are known to have been affected.

“They were taken to hospital for monitoring and have since all been discharged.  The incident has now been scaled back, with no ongoing concerns, and firefighters will be leaving the scene in due course.”