More than 1,500 people were today evacuated from Wolverhampton College after students and staff were overcome by gas.

There were chaotic scenes at the Paget Road campus in Compton where around 50 people, many of whom had to be carried or wheeled out of the building, were treated for vomiting and coughing.  

Pictured: Firefighters checking out the situation at the campus this afternoon. Pictures by student Nicola Leech 

It is believed a CS gas canister was deliberately let off in the packed canteen, forcing an emergency evacuation and a 200-metre cordon to be placed by police around the site.

Staff and students poured out of buildings after alarms sounded around 11.15am, and the whole of Paget Road was closed off by noon. The drama saw police, four ambulances and an emergency first response team treat victims of gas inhalation at the scene for breathing difficulties.

Student Robin Wilkinson was in the canteen at the time of the mayhem. The 18-year-old said: “One girl fell out of the lift and she was sick. Staff were coming out of their offices and no-one could breathe.”

Secretarial student Alex Griffin said: “One girl went into the second floor toilet and came back coughing. She said a girl was sick but then the fire alarm went off.”

Ricky Potter, aged 18, said it was first thought the alarms were a routine fire drill. “Then we heard there were people coughing and throwing up and there were a few people escorted out by ambulance,” he said.

Chemistry and biology student Danielle Corns, aged 16, of Bentley, Walsall, called her father Frank as the drama unfolded.

Mr Corns, aged 58, said: “She told me there was a gas leak in the canteen and there was a bit of problem with some lads.”

It is thought two yobs fighting in the canteen were responsible for setting off the canister.

Police said this afternoon investigations were ongoing. The college was shut this afternoon and all students sent home. It is not known when it will reopen. Principal Ian Millard praised students and staff for reacting quickly to the fire alarms.

Press officer Kate Eccles said all staff and students were accounted for but it was not yet clear when the college would reopen. We are now waiting to find out whether it was students or visitors who let the gas canisters off in the refectory,” she added.

Anyone from the college who has symptoms such as a headache, stinging throat or slight breathing difficulties should contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

l Meanwhile Bushbury Primary School was closed today while Transco investigated a strong smell of gas at the premises.

By Andy Rea, Cathy Spencer and Stuart Pollitt