A security guard was taken to hospital after a cannister of security dye exploded trapping him in the back of a van.

Ian Sim was taking part in a routine operation with two colleagues at the Asda store in Hollingbury when the canister of pink dye, intended to deter robbers, was accidentally set off.

He was able to escape from the locked Securitas van only after activating its alarm system to open the doors.

By then he was suffering from badly irritated eyes and had breathing difficulties.

After being attended to by paramedics in the store car park, he was taken by ambulance to hospital.

The police arrived on the scene, responding to the cries of the Securitas van alarm.

After being reassured there had not been a robbery, DC Novelle said: "Our concern now is for the man's health and he will be taken to hospital to make sure he is all right."

"As we understand it, the cannister opened by pure accident. The dye is not designed to be inhaled, though neither is it intended to seriously injure people."

Mr Sim's two Securitas colleagues said the incident was a "freak accident".

One said: "It is nasty stuff to breathe in, especially as he was trapped inside - it burns your eyes."

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