Smethwick suspected carbon monoxide leak: Police update after nine people were taken to hospital

West Midlands Police, ambulance crews and firefighters were called to Firs Lane at around 6.30pm on Sunday (March 16).

The suspected gas leak affected a row of five houses.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene to reports of residents feeling unwell from breathing in fumes in a building.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "The team of ambulance staff worked rapidly to assess a number of residents at the scene. 

"Of those assessed, nine patients were taken to hospital for further treatment for potential carbon monoxide poisoning."

The nine people have since been released from hospital, a West Midlands Police spokesman has confirmed.

He added that police enquiries into the suspected gas leak were ongoing.

Firs Lane resident David Sharma said he saw people being brought out of the affected properties on the night of the incident.

Mr Sharma said: "They were walking but looked like they had been affected by something and were being helped into the ambulances. 

"Then the police were here [on Monday]. There was quite a bit of activity this morning including police officers in protective clothing.

"I have never seen anything like this, there has been police activity before a few times but not for anything like this."

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman confirmed the agency was not involved in the incident.