Emergency workers in southern China are pouring sacks of neutralising powder into drains leading to the Liujiang River as they try to tackle a chemical spill.

The pollution has been caused by a local factory releasing the toxic chemical cadmium into the river. The cancer-causing toxin, which is especially dangerous for young children, was detected in the water twelve days ago at twice the legal limit.

The spill is affecting the drinking water of 3.7 million people living in the city of Liuzhou.

Authorities are also diluting the polluted water using 500 million cubic metres of clean water from the Honghua Hydropower station.

The neutralising powder is made up of aluminium chloride which binds the dangerous cadmium into larger clumps, making it easier to dredge up from the river.