Shipwreck may be to blame for haze

A shipwreck could be to blame for a chemical cloud which forced coastline evacuations across East Sussex last weekend, the coastguard said. About 150 people required treatment for stinging eyes, sore throats and vomiting after the noxious haze reached the shore from Eastbourne to Birling Gap, near Beachy Head, on Sunday.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was examining whether the emissions came from a vessel, previously unreported lost cargo or known shipwrecks.