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Salisbury Hospital has shut its A&E and declared a "major incident" involving up to 10 casualties after two people who may have been exposed to the powerful opiate fentanyl were left in a critical condition.

Firefighters were called to the hospital in Wiltshire to decontaminate an area outside the A&E department.

Emergency personnel were wearing full-body hazardous materials protective suits at the scene, a green tent was set up and an incident response unit was on site.

It is understood that fewer than 10 people were involved in the incident - mainly members of the public - and there were no fatalities.

The "major incident" comes hours after a man and woman fell ill and collapsed at the Maltings shopping centre in the city centre, with police suspecting the deadly drug fentanyl may have been involved.

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency) (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency) (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency) (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service were called to the hospital on Monday morning to decontaminate the area outside the A&E department.

Salisbury District Hospital tweeted: "Salisbury NHS is currently dealing with a major incident involving a small number of casualties, with a multi-agency response.

"We are not asking additional staff to come to site unless contacted directly."

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency) (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

The hospital added: "We are advising patients to attend for their scheduled appointments unless they too have been contacted directly and asked not to.

"We are asking staff who are due to work today to come to work as normal."

It advised on its website: "Please do not attend the Emergency Department (A&E) unless extremely urgent."

Wiltshire Police said it is suspected two people were exposed to an unknown substance in Salisbury on Sunday.

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

Officers suspected the synthetic drug fentanyl, which is more than 50 times stronger than heroin and has been blamed for hundreds of deaths amid an outbreak in the US, may have been involved, the Salisbury Journal reported.

In that incident, police taped off an area around a bench where one of the pair had been sick and firefighters in protective suits decontaminated the area.

The woman was airlifted to hospital and the man was transported via land ambulance. Both were said to be in their late 20s to early 30s.

A police spokesperson said: "Police received a call at approximately 4.15pm yesterday regarding concern for the welfare of a man and a woman in The Maltings, Salisbury.

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

"They were taken to Salisbury District Hospital and are being treated for suspected exposure to an unknown substance. They are currently in a critical condition.

"At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed and a multi-agency response has been co-ordinated.

"Police are carrying out a full investigation and working with partner agencies, to clarify the exact circumstances.

"At this stage, Wiltshire Police does not believe there is any risk to the wider public.

"Salisbury District Hospital is advising people to still attend routine appointments unless they are contacted.

(Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

"There are a number of locations in Salisbury which have been cordoned off in relation to this matter. Wiltshire Police will update the public as soon and as regularly as possible."

A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said: "Based on the limited information available there doesn't appear to be any further immediate risk to public health.

"PHE understands that those exposed to the substances have been decontaminated, as is standard practice in situations like this.

"Scientists from PHE's Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, will continue to assist the response and review information as it becomes available."

Anyone who fears they may have come into contact with the substance should call NHS 111 for medical advice, said police.