A NATURE reserve in Lincolnshire has been closed indefinitely following the discovery of canisters containing mustard gas.
The Roughton Moor reserve, near Woodhall Spa, is owned by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
It falls within a wider area of woodland which has been put off limits to the public since the start of the month.
It is believed the canisters have been in situ since when the site was an operational RAF base.
The
reserve consists of oak, birch, rowan and Scots pine, plus some heathland.
There
is also an avenue of Corsican pines apparently planted as an intended approach
to a manor house which was never built.
The
canisters were taken to Porton Down, the Defence Science and Technology
Laboratory, for their contents to be analysed.
In
the wake of the incident, two men and a woman were arrested and released on
bail until October 25 pending further inquiries.
Two
properties have been searched, but it is understood no noxious substances were
discovered.
Mustard
“gas” is said to be a misnomer because the chemical is not vaporised but disperses as a
mist of fine liquid droplets.
First
used by the German army in World War One, it has an infamous record of being
used as a chemical warfare agent -
deployed by means of artillery shells, bombs, rockets or spraying from
warplanes.
Victims
are at risk of sustaining large burn blisters both on exposed skin and in lungs.
If
anyone has recently obtained any containers from this area they are urged to
contact the police.
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