Police and fire crews cordoned off a road close to Grays town centre for several hours on Saturday after a mystery substance came up from the drains.

Cromwell Road was shut from its junction with Orsett Road in the town north to Stuart Road at just after 10am - stranding many shoppers' cars in a nearby car park.

It is believed the liquid started coming up from manholes in the road on Friday night, but it was not until it dried that the potential dangers were realised as a white powder coated the road, pavement and car park surface.

Environment Agency and water board officials were drafted in an attempt to discover what the substance is and its source.

On Saturday morning a spokesman for Essex Police said it was "believed to have been an industrial discharge".

Expert analysis was carried out during the morning and the substance was found to be harmless. Police stood down their operation just before 2.30pm and the road was re-opened.

Published Monday, March 11, 2002