Residents of an apartment block in Carrickfergus marina were given an apology by the mayor today following an alert over a chemical spillage which saw them evacuated from their homes.
Three people were taken to hospital suffering from breathing difficulties after the spillage at a council-owned store at Swift's Quay close to the marina.
Some 45 residents were evacuated from their waterfront homes at Quayside for several hours before the all clear was given.
Carrickfergus mayor David Hilditch said a council investigation had established that the substance had not been toxic. "It wasn't dangerous at all as it turns out, it was a concentrated cleaning detergent," he said.
"Offering "apologies all round" the mayor added: "There are no toxic materials stored there, they are in a special area." The detergent is believed to have been left over from the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.
The spillage yesterday afternoon was followed by a clean up operation lasting several hours by Fire Service officers wearing special protective clothing.