A lorry spilled almost 1,500 litres of chemical fertilizer across a road, sparking fears for wildlife.

Three containers holding nitrogen phosphorus pentoxide fell off the lorry and poured into a drainage system at Patching, near the A27.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 1.30pm yesterday and immediately alerted the Environment Agency when they discovered the chemicals.

A team from the agency spent the afternoon trying to trace the liquid to determine if it needed to be diluted to save aquatic life.

The spillage happened just yards from fishing beauty spot Patching Pond but environment management team leader Bob Jennings said it was unlikely the pond's fish and insects would be at risk.

While the containers were reloaded on to the lorry, Mr Jennings said: "The liquid fertilizer was in 1,000 litre containers and a number of them came off the lorry.

"One spilled completely and another only half spilled so about 1,500 litres went on to the road. It has mostly gone down into a drainage system.

"It is hazardous to insects and fish but it is not toxic. Given sufficient dilution of water it will not have much of an effect."

Lorry driver Jeremy Roberts had been taking the fertilizer from East Anglia to Chichester.

Mr Roberts, of Goughs of Winchester haulage company, said: "I braked, I heard them come off and called the fire brigade."

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: "We are monitoring the situation but at the moment it doesn't look as though much has escaped into the drainage system."

A fire brigade spokeswoman advised motorists who drove through the spillage to use gloves when they washed their tyres but said the fertilizer would not damage their vehicles.

The roundabout was initially cordoned off for three hours.