AN alarm prompted a blue light response to an incident at Stanford-le-Hope rail station last night (Sunday, 7 September).

However, the emergency call which reported suspicions of an acid attack, turned out to be children throwing drinks around.

Four police cars and the fire and rescue service and an ambulance were despatched when the call came in around 8pm.

An Essex police statement says: "For info, British Transport Police called us, fire and ambulance for support after concerns of an acid attack, that turned out to be kids throwing drinks about."

British Transport Police have since given more detail saying: "Officers were called at around 8.30pm yesterday (7 September) following reports of an incident on a train at Stanford-le-Hope railway station.

"Officers responded. A man had in his 40s reportedly had a substance thrown and tree branch at him by a group of teenagers.

"The substance was found to be water and the man did not require hospital treatment."