Witnesses told of frightening scenes as hundreds of Bank Holiday revellers were forced to flee an east London nightclub following a suspected acid attack.

At least 12 people suffered burns after the “corrosive substance” was reportedly hurled over a crowd of people inside the trendy Mangle basement club in the early hours of Monday morning.

Emergency services, including a hazardous area response team, raced to the scene in Sidworth Street, near London Fields, shortly after 1am.

The basement venue where up to 600 revellers were attending an event was evacuated after the alarm was raised and the area was sealed off.

Scotland Yard said two men aged in their 20s remained in hospital in a serious but stable condition, while 10 other people suffered minor injuries.

Police said a man had sprayed the noxious substance directly at the two men and towards other revellers after a dispute between two groups of people inside the venue had escalated.

A manager of a bar near the club told his staff there had been an acid attack which had left a girl with burns to her arm and face.

Another witness described seeing a group pouring bottles of water over what appeared to be an injured friend.

A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said an “unknown corrosive substance” was thrown within the nightclub.

She said: "It was identified by a PH paper test as a strong acidic substance."

Twelve people had symptoms attributed to a corrosive substance, she added.

The venue's corridors were filled with clubbers wrapped in medical blankets, while fire officers filed past into the nightclub to investigate.

Many revellers were sat on blankets which had been laid on the concrete floor and outside, the road was packed with ambulances.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "In the party in the basement there were girls making noise, I saw their friends ordering a bottle of water - they were putting it on them, they were splashing it on their faces."

The witness added: "It was like a war - the police were everywhere."

Nima Navazande, 30, who works at the nearby Martello Hall bar, and took over from his manager for the morning shift, said: "My manager told me that around one o'clock they heard somebody saying that someone was attacked with liquid acid and there was a girl who had half her arm and her face burnt.

"My manager had to lock the doors and stay indoors to make sure nobody got in or out."

Another tweeted: "Scary scenes in Hackney tonight, we have heard reports of chemical burns of people in the building here."

Police remained at the scene on Monday morning but no arrests have been made.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called to a licensed premises in Sidworth Street, Dalston, at approximately 1.10am on April 17, after members of the public complained of a noxious substance.

"London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were called to the scene.

"Ten people have been treated for minor burns at the scene and taken to east London hospitals by LAS.

"Another two people presented themselves at an east London hospital with similar injuries. All victims' injuries are non-life threatening.

The substance is yet to be identified, but it is believed to have been acidic.

A police investigation is underway. There has been no arrest at this early stage and enquiries continue. There is nothing to suggest that this is gang related.

Around 200 people had left the premises before the arrival of emergency services, with a further 400 evacuated from the building.

A spokesman for the club said: "We are currently cooperating with the Metropolitan Police's investigation into the incident. At this stage, we cannot offer any further comment."

Anyone with information that may assist police should call detectives from Hackney CID via 101 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.