A LARGE multi-emergency service response descended on a Winchester city centre house to deal with a hazardous chemical incident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police were called at 12.48am on September 29 to attend a concern for the welfare of a man in a property in Stockbridge Road near Winchester railway station.

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Officers closed part of the road for several hours while emergency services managed the incident.

South Central Ambulance Service was contacted by Hampshire Constabulary at 12.49am.

A spokesperson for the service said: "We sent our full hazardous area response team, an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance critical care car, and a tactical advisor.

"The team worked closely with emergency service colleagues in a complex operation to provide immediate care at the scene to a patient in a life-threatening condition, who was then transported to University Hospital Southampton."

Fire crews from six stations – Winchester, Eastleigh, Sutton Scotney, Redbridge, Alton and Alresford – attended the property to assist the other emergency services at 1.02am.

The road was eventually reopened by police later in the morning but officers remained at the scene for some time.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said there is no wider risk to the community.

"The man was taken to hospital in a serious condition," said the spokesperson. "The incident is not being treated as suspicious."