Emergency incident at Rolls-Royce nuclear site as staff told 'stay inside'

Emergency services responded to an incident at a Rolls-Royce site in Derby this afternoon, with local residents told to stay inside and keep their doors and windows closed

Residents living near a Rolls-Royce site in Derby were urged to keep their doors and windows closed as emergency services responded to an incident earlier.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene on Raynesway shortly after 4pm today. They arrived after alarms blared across the site, alerting residents in surrounding areas.

Police and ambulances were spotted outside the factory, while a number of roads surrounding the building were closed, reports Derbyshire Live. Staff had been asked to stay inside the building as a precaution while further work was carried out.

The site designs and manufactures the nuclear reactors and fuel that power the Royal Navy's submarines, as well as supporting their operation and maintenance, according to the Ministry of Defence .

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said there was a suspected gas leak of a product used in the manufacturing process, confined to the main production area.

"We were in the process of rectifying the situation when the alarms went off," the spokesperson said. "As a precaution we have asked staff to stay inside the building while further work is carried out.

"The emergency services have turned out in force because that is the procedure when the alarms go on this site. We will let people know if there is any further news as we are notified."

A cordon was put in place and a number of road closures were in operation, including on Royal Scot Way, Pride Park Way from Derby Audi to the London Road roundabout, Harrow Street, London Road from the junction of Harrow Steet to Meadow Lane.

Residents living along the affected routes were advised to remain indoors and keep their doors and windows closed. Reports suggested traffic was gridlocked around the Pride Park area.

In an update issued at 9.45pm, Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed the cordon and road closures had been lifted. Residents were also told they no longer needed to remain indoors, with the incident now handed over to Rolls-Royce.

The force said: "A 300 metre cordon with road closures has now been lifted. Local residents no longer need to remain indoors. Emergency services and Rolls-Royce would like to thank local residents and businesses for their cooperation while the incident was resolved safely and as quickly as possible.

"The incident has now been handed over to Rolls-Royce." The incident was not nuclear-related.

The Rolls-Royce site in Derby plays a key role in powering the Royal Navy's submarine fleet, with the company responsible for designing and supplying the nuclear reactors used in the vessels.

The facility also supports the reactors through their working lives, including providing maintenance and technical assistance to submarines operating around the world .