POLICE are investigating the cause of a chemical spill which left one man in hospital and caused hours of delays for motorists on Friday.

POLICE are investigating the cause of a chemical spill which left one man in hospital and caused hours of delays for motorists on Friday.

Roads were closed and a 200 metre exclusion zone set up around the Spittals roundabout after a collision between a lorry and tanker caused a hazardous material, believed to be ethanol, to leak on to the road.

Residents in the Stukeley Meadows area were told to stay inside and keep windows and doors shut while emergency teams worked to clear up the spill.

Cambridgeshire Police closed the A141 to A14 in both directions, A14 west bound at Godmanchester, A1 south bound, junction with A1M at Alconbury and A14 east bound at Brampton Hut, and set up a 200 metre exclusion zone around the roundabout.

All roads were re-opened at 6pm but motorists faced continued delays because of congestion.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue spent eight hours clearing up at the area, eventually leaving the scene at 7pm.

A 53 year old man, believed to be the driver of the lorry, was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Calls are also being issued for the adverse camber of the road at the roundabout to be rectified.

Lingmoor Road resident David O’Brian was one of the residents told to stay indoors on Friday,

He said: “We have tankers go over all the time with regular monotony. Isn’t it about time they did something about it? The road slopes outwards so when you go to the right, your vehicle leans to the left. The lorries go a bit too quick chasing the lights and momentum pushes them over. We have had all sorts in the road, but this is the most serious ever.”