Around 8,000 people were evacuated from the British Museum on Saturday after visitors and staff experienced itchy throats and stinging eyes.

A museum spokesperson said: "An incident occurred at the British Museum at approximately 12.30pm on Saturday 28 August when a number of visitors and staff members reported stinging eyes and itchy throats. No casualties were reported but the museum was promptly evacuated.

"The police and fire brigade conducted a thorough search of the entire site but did not find anything that could be causing the complaints and the site was declared safe at 4.45pm.

"The museum was open as usual on Sunday."

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade told Leisure Opportunities: "Fire crews attended a suspected chemical incident at the British Museum on Great Russell Street on Saturday 28 August.

"Firefighters in gas tight suits used detection equipment to try and find chemicals involved. No chemicals were detected."