MORE than 150 people had to be evacuated from Worcestershire Royal Hospital in a fire alert.

About 170 outpatients were evacuated after Hazel ward in the main building filled with the smell of smoke and a nurse activated a fire alarm at about 9.20am yesterday.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service immediately sent three fire engines to the hospital, in Charles Hastings Way, but soon sent for another appliance from Droitwich and the aerial ladder platform from Hereford.

The police set up a cordon and road closures around the site as a precautionary measure while the fire service investigated the building.

Despite a thorough search, firefighters could not find a cause for either the smell or the alarm inside the hospital.

Station Commander Grant Wills said: “Following a systematic search of each floor of the hospital, we can confirm that the smell of burning was due to external fumes which had entered the air handling unit and had circulated throughout the building.”

Everyone was allowed back into the hospital just after 11am.

A hospital spokesman said: “There wasn’t really any knock-on effect – afternoon sessions ran as normal.

"For the few patients whose outpatient appointments were cancelled, we will be writing to them as soon as possible to rearrange another date.

“We would like to thank everyone who was affected for their understanding.”

Dorothy Cutting, who had taken her granddaughter up to the hospital for an operation, praised the staff for how they handled the crisis.

“I thought they were extremely, extremely good,” said the St John’s resident.

“The nurses and staff came out with chairs and blankets for anyone who needed them. They also offered tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

“And all the while they kept us informed. They looked after everybody – I could not fault them.”