FIREFIGHTERS and police were called to Worcester's main bridge today after chemical drums washed up in debris below.

Nine blue drums, marked with a black cross within an organge square and a red gas canister, are lodged beneath the bridge.

Crews, who initially feared that they may contain hazardous material, have now determined that drums are empty and pose no risk to the public.

Four fire engines, including the incident response unit and environmental protection unit, were called to the scene at 10.40am.

The bridge and part of North Parade was closed off for almost hour, causing temporary traffic chaos in the city centre.

The road has now reopened.

Richie Jordan, Worcester station manager, said: "It looks as though they've been tied together to form some kind of raft or pontoon. "They must have washed down the river when it was flooded.

"If there had been something in them the issue would have been how to reach them."

See tomorrow's Worcester News for more.