A sulphuric acid spillage sparked a scare after it was left at Kingston station late on Friday afternoon.

A man fled after leaving a bag under a bench at Kingston train station at about 5.50pm and witnesses spotted a substance leaking from it across the station forecourt.

The corrosive acid burned through the shoe of a passer-by, according to a spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP), which are investigating.

Services were disrupted because trains could not stop at the station for about an hour, as the fire service investigated.

The leak closed the ticket booking area, where the leak was found, and it remained closed until about 10.30pm, a South West Trains spokesman confirmed.

A BTP spokeswoman said: “A man left a bag under a bench near to a cafe at the station.

“Fumes were seen coming from the bag. He was challenged about it by railway staff but left the area and police were called.”

CCTV is being studied in a bid to locate the man.

Train services were disrupted as trains could not stop at the station for about an hour, as the fire service investigated.

Kingston fire station’s watch manager Neil Sinclair, who was not in attendance, confirmed firefighters were called to the incident at about 5.57pm and entered wearing breathing apparatus and gas tight suits.

The area was made safe with soda ash, which neutralised the effect of the acid.

Mr Sinclair said the damage of the acid, normally found in places such as car batteries, depended on the quantity and strength of the acid as well as the confinement of the area. Putting it into context, Mr Sinclair said “you wouldn’t want to bathe in it”.

Sulphuric acid is not considered toxic but holds a corrosive hazard, with the main risk being skin burns and eye irritation.

One witness, who drove past the station while it was closed said: “It was swarming with firemen. They had big orange suits on and were going in and out of there.”

Keep up to date with this story at kingstonguardian.co.uk/news