'Unusual smell' in Greenwich Foot Tunnel causes temporary closure (From This Is Local London)

'Unusual smell' in Greenwich Foot Tunnel causes temporary closure

2:28pm Saturday 25th August 2012 in News By Robert Fisk

GREENWICH Foot Tunnel was temporarily closed last night (August 24) after pedestrians suffered breathing difficulties and reported an unusual smell.

The tunnel under the Thames, which links Greenwich with the Isle of Dogs, was shut for more than an hour.

It reopened at around 9pm.

Emergency services were called to reports of an unusual smell from around 7pm.

A Met police spokesman said: “We had reports of an unusual smell in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

"A number of people reported difficulty breathing, but we are not aware of any casualties.

"The cause of the smell is unknown."

And a London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 7.25pm last night to reports of patients taken unwell at Greenwich foot tunnel.

"We sent an ambulance crew, cycle responder, duty manager and our hazardous area response team.

"Our staff checked over seven patients at the scene complaining of breathing difficulties.

"All the patients declined hospital treatment."

Were you one of the pedestrians? Call the newsroom on 01689 885725.