Eighteen people had to be evacuated from a north swimming pool following a chemical leak scare.
Emergency services were called to Wick Swimming Pool just before 4pm after staff detected a strong smell of chlorine.
Swimmers and staff had to be evacuated while firefighters worked to find the cause of the smell. Nobody was injured as a result of the incident.
It was traced to a faulty pump in the pool’s plant room which caused an overflow of the sodium hypochlorite crystals which are used to treat the water.
Firefighters using breathing apparatus were able to gain access to the plant room and cleared eight litres of the chlorine solution which had spilled out of the pumping system.
Pool operators High Life Highlands said the facility had been closed as a “precaution” but added that the pool is expected to open again as normal this morning.
A spokesman for the agency said: “Wick swimming pool was closed earlier today due to a faulty pump in the plant room causing an overflow which created a strong smell of chlorine.
“Emergency services were called, 18 staff and customers were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
“The pool is expected to open again as normal tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.”
Firefighters were first called to the pool just before 3.50pm.
Police also attended the incident to manage the evacuation of swimmers and staff.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “Two crews from Wick attended the incident.
“Two firefighters in breathing apparatus were able to find the cause of the chlorine smell.
“It was found to be eight litres of calcium hypochlorite solution which cleared up and removed.
“It has been left in the care of the local authority.”
The firefighters left the scene at 6pm.
Calcium hypochlorite is commonly used to sanitise public swimming pools and disinfect drinking water.
It is also used as a bleaching agent in household disinfectants.
The leak follows an incident at the East Sands Leisure Centre in St Andrews last week, which caused 19 people to be taken to hospital.
All of the group were said to have suffered “minor breathing irritation” and were sent home from hospital later the same day.