FIREFIGHTERS were called when children were seen playing with petrol next to a Hampshire building site last night.

About 20 children “of all ages” were seen playing near a puddle filled which firefighters said was filled with about 10 litres of a flammable liquid in Mantle Close, Gosport.

Watch manager Steve Bint from Gosport Fire Station said a can was seen nearby with the words petrol written on it in a car park at the close.

He said it didn’t know why the children, who were aged six to 10 were playing with it, but added it was “quite a strange environment”.

Firefighters used absorbing pads to clear up the puddle which he said was about 12 inches deep and about 18 feet in diameter.

Mr Bint added that none of the children were contaminated with the liquid.

“There was no real fire hazard nearby, it was quite contained in the water, it was quite diluted.

"There were no vapours coming off of it.”