HAZARDOUS chemical experts were called to a block of student halls today after police discovered an unknown substance.

Police confirmed they were called to a fear for welfare incident at the William R Miller building in Dawson Street at about 2pm after a member of the public raised the alarm.

But when they arrived at the accommodation - run by St Edmund Hall - they discovered an unknown substance.

Spokesman Gareth Ford-Lloyd said: "We were called by a member of the public who had concerns for someone.

"We attended in the process of this we found a substance that officers could not identify."

Fire crews and ambulances were called and the street was cordoned off while hazardous material teams went into the building and removed the substance - which has not been identified.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said that no one was injured and paramedics were there on standby.

Mr Ford-Lloyd stressed there was no danger to the public and added: "We would stress at no point was there any danger to the wider public, and this was very much concern for an individual."

The road has since re-opened.