Specialist fire fighters cleared dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide created by leaking battery acid at a warehouse this morning.

The leak, in a battery distribution warehouse off Red Lion Road, Tolworth, caused major disruption as emergency services closed roads from about 7am to 10am.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “We initially detected elevated readings of carbon monoxide but we made the area safe by ventilating the building.”

Fire crews used specialist equipment to monitor and ventilate the building to bring the levels down to a safe level.

Kingston police tweeted just after 8.30am: "We are currently dealing with a chemical incident with London Fire on Red Lion Road please avoid due to road closures."

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called at 7.20 hours today, Monday, October 5, to reports of leaking fluid from a battery at a business premises in Red Lion Road in Surbiton.

"The London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service (LAS) both attended the scene, road closures were put in place as a precaution, a man was assessed by LAS and he's got no injuries.”