The discovery of 30-year-old hazardous chemicals led to the lockdown of a pharmacy on an Aberdeenshire high street earlier this week.
Davidsons Chemist, in Banchory, was evacuated after staff came across “hazardous chemicals” whilst investigating a leak in the premises.
Police and 20 firefighters converged on the outlet on Tuesday at about 4.30pm, cordoning off the high street for almost two hours.
Last night, staff at the store said they were not aware how long the chemicals had been inside the premises.
The store reopened yesterday morning.
The Grampian Health Board and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were both informed after the chemicals were found.
Superintendent pharmacist at Davidsons Chemist, Karen Gordon, said: “We can confirm that a small amount of hazardous chemicals were discovered within our Banchory premises on the morning of Tuesday, June 14 outwith all public areas.
“Although the chemicals discovered were over 30 years old, we are unsure how long they have been in situ, and they were only discovered following a small water leak above our dispensary yesterday morning.
“With concern for our customers and staff the priority, we chose to close the premises until further investigations had been carried out.”
She added that deciding to call the emergency services had only been a last resort and there had been “no risk to staff and customers”.
Ms Gordon added: “Despite our best efforts to get the chemicals disposed of onsite by a waste management company, we could not source anyone.
“We had to call in the emergency services who sent out a full hazardous materials response which is standard protocol for such incidents.”
