MPS are calling for an urgent investigation into the source of a chemical haze which lingered along the coastline leaving holidaymakers with streaming eyes, sore throats and sickness.

More than 200 people were treated and the crowds on the busy beaches and cliff tops from Eastbourne to Birling Gap were evacuated after the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) declared a major incident on Sunday afternoon.

Those living nearby were told to stay inside and keep windows and doors shut. Meanwhile Eastbourne and Hastings hospitals were overrun with patients seeking treatment.

Mystery still surrounds the cause of the thick, yellow fog and last night it was unclear which public body was taking responsibility for establishing its origin.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said if evidence suggested public bodies were “passing the buck” then that was not acceptable when health was at risk.

She said: “It’s clear we need an urgent investigation to establish how this gas came to be in our atmosphere and engulf our beaches. An action plan must be put in place to ensure this never happens again.”

While she had been told by the Environment Agency it as part of the ongoing investigation, other staff members told The Argus it would only become involved if the source was identified as coming from the land.

Equally the MCA said it would only investigate if it was confirmed a ship in the English Channel was responsible.

Both Ms Lucas and Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd said they would continue to question authorities. They both thanked emergency services for their quick response.

It appears the mist swept in from the sea but police said it is very unlikely to have come from northern France. They also dismissed suggestions it was a chlorine leak.

European industrial units have previously been to blame but studies of Sunday’s weather indicated this was not the case, the Met Office said.

Graham Howson said he noticed a large ship about four miles off the shore coming in to Shoreham Harbour from the east emitting a trail of mist at about 1pm.

The 48-year-old, of Worthing, said: “I think it was a dredger and it had this thick, gunky yellow fog coming out of the back of it.

“It stood out for me because it was out of the ordinary as the mist was not dissipating, it was just lingering behind.

“When I later heard about the haze I tried to phone the police on 101 to tell them what I saw but was on hold for half an hour so I emailed the report instead. They later replied and said they weren’t investigating and to speak to the coastguard.”

Kyle Crickmore, who was swimming at Birling Gap, said it had been a clear day minutes before. He described a strong smell of chlorine and said everyone started rubbing their eyes. Then he saw a “crazy, foggy haze rolling in off the sea out of nowhere”.

Holly Berndsen, 30, of Lewes, and her mother were evacuated from the beach by the coastguard.

She said: “We walked up the stairs to three firemen with masks on. They were escorting people as quickly as possible to their cars and saying the only way to leave was the direction of Eastbourne. They had blocked the exit towards Seaford saying the haze was drifting that way.

“My eyes were so bad. I kept putting water on them and washing them but they stung so much.”

Paramedics treated casualties while lifeboats trawled the coastline from Eastbourne to Newhaven with a doctor on board.

Supermarket manager Jonathan Hill, 28, who lives half-a-mile from Birling Gap, said: “We got home, threw open the windows to air the house and quickly developed stingy eyes. Initially we thought it might be hayfever.

“It got so bad at one point I couldn’t see for about five minutes, it was very painful to open my eyes and I had to wash them with cold water.”

Bob Jefferey, of Eastbourne RNLI, said: “Whatever it was, it smelled like burnt plastic. It hung about and didn’t move because there was no wind.”

Sussex Police said: “Neither the gas nor its source have been established, but agencies are continuing to investigate.”

Yesterday officials said the mist had cleared so it was safe to open windows and doors again.

But Public Health England, which said it would not be investigating the incident, told anyone still suffering effects from the fumes should wash irritated areas with soap and water.

The incident did not discourage holidaymakers to flock back to the coast yesterday. Anyone who has information to report to the coastguard should email infoline@mcga.gov.uk.

  • Sussex Police later said: "Incoming calls to our non-emergency number did rise during this incident as operators dealt with this and usual business along with the commitment to 999 calls. We are sorry if people were unable to get through, but there are other ways to contact us at busy times that can be found at https://www.sussex.police.uk/contact-us/."