A hospital building has been evacuated after a canister of dry ice sparked a chemical alert.

Fire crews were called to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh when a member of staff reported a chemical spill at the MRC Human Genetics Unit just after 4.15pm on Monday.

The research centre and an adjacent building were cleared for more than an hour while 25 firefighters checked the scene before concluding that there was no risk to health.

Police and ambulance crews also attended the scene as a precaution, but were not required to intervene.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to a report of a chemical incident. When we arrived we found a bottle of liquid nitrogen which a member of staff had put in a fridge.

"The bottle was inspected and appeared to be in a safe condition, so it was handed back to hospital staff."