Three members of staff were overcome by fumes when a fridge at a care home leaked ammonia gas.

Firefighters were called to the residential care unit at Clermiston House on Parkgrove Terrace in Edinburgh when the leak was spotted by night staff who noticed an unusual smell in a downstairs office at 4.15am on Thursday.

The three women staff affected, along with nine residents, were taken away from the fumes while two firefighters ventilated areas of the building using breathing apparatus.

A full chemical attendance, including two pumping vehicles and four specialist units, was sent out by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service to tackle the leak.

A spokeswoman for the fire service confirmed that two of the staff members were taken to the Royal Infirmary after suffering breathing difficulties.

A spokesman from City of Edinburgh Council, who own the care home, said: “We’re grateful to our staff for taking prompt action to deal with this incident and to the emergency services for their response.”