Emergency services were called into action this evening after a chemical hazard scare at a Wirral beach.

Fire, police and coastguards were scrambled after being alerted by a member of the public who had spotted a large, leaking container washed up on the Meols embankment near Dove Point.

A cordon was set in place under a full Hazardous Material procedure while experts examined the suspect steel drum.

The container was labelled "Sikafloor" and carried a warning its contents were flammable.

A sterile area was set up while officers worked to establish the risk level.

The container was made secure and taken away for disposal by Wirral Council's environmental health department.

A fire services spokesman at the scene said: "We train all the time with our police and coastguard colleagues for this type of incident and we are aware that we can take no chances.

"The container was taken from the embankment to the slipway then removed for safe disposal after we established there was no risk to the public."

The operation began shortly after 5pm and was completed some 90 minutes later.

The spokesman said the most likely explanation is that the drum had fallen from a ship.