7 people have been taken to hospital after a chemical spill in Co. Clare.

It happened at a plant in Shannon this evening.

The alarm was raised at around 5pm at the Chemifloc plant in Shannon.

It is understood there was a chlorine spill in one of the buildings there.

Emplyees hospitalised

5 men and 2 women have been taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.

They are all understood to be company employees.

They are being treated for breathing difficulties.

8 units of the fire brigade from Shannon and Ennis were called to deal with the incident.

And a number of buildings in the vicinity of the plant have been evacuated.