A man is in hospital after he was reportedly attacked with chemicals in Witham - causing possible "life-changing" injuries.
A section of Bramble Road was cordoned off from around 11am today (August 8) during the 'chemical incident'.
Police, six fire crews, ambulances, paramedic cars, a hazardous area response team and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance descended on the quiet residential street.
The victim was then flown to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, before fire crews left the area at about 12.40pm. Police were there well into Friday afternoon, to make the scene safe.
Inspector Dean Stratford told the Chronicle: "A man has been assaulted and chemicals were involved. We're making sure the area is safe for the public and the cordon will be in place until that time.
"At the moment we are trying to ascertain the circumstances around what happened and the investigation is ongoing."
Nearby resident Mark Andrews, 39, who lives in Bramble Road, opposite the block of flats police cordoned off, said: "I was just walking down the road and it all kicked off a bit.
"Loads of ambulances and fire engines came down the road. Then the air ambulance came and took someone to hospital.
"It's normally quiet down here, it's never normally like this."
Anthony Jefferson, 32, who lives in flats behind where the incident happened added: "Lots of people were rushing around the back of the flats and there was activity everywhere."
Police confirmed the incident happened partly inside and outside the block of flats and that as of yet no one has been arrested.
