Two swimmers have suffered burns and a woman has been rushed to hospital after a suspected chemical spillage at a holiday park pool.

A further six people were treated for the effects of chlorine inhalation at the Martello Beach Park, in Pevensey Bay, near Eastbourne.

Holidaymakers were stunned when the indoor pool was evacuated at 10am today after swimmers developed rashes and burns.

Fire crews and a chemical support unit attended minutes later and ordered an evacuation of the surrounding area because of fears of a chemical leak.

Two ambulances arrived to administer first aid and the injured woman was treated at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

The pool was built in 2004 as part of a £1.3 million clubhouse, which also houses a children's play area, restaurant, sauna, gym and bar.

Some holidaymakers have stopped using the pool in recent years because rashes developed on their body after going swimming.

Audrey Gilbert, of Bexleyheath, Kent, has been visiting the site for 36 years with her husband, Alec, 83.

The 78-year-old stopped using the pool because she developed itching and irritation which was later diagnosed as eczema.

She said: "When it first opened I swam for about four months and I got eczema.

"I have never had it before and I haven't been able to swim there since then.

"I didn't realise it was eczema at first except it itched like mad.

"It doesn't surprise me the pool was evacuated because I was talking to a woman yesterday who had also got eczema from swimming.

"I have mentioned it to the manager but I was told the water was tested every day."

Sylvia Jones, 68, from West Wickham, Kent, suffered skin irritation problems on her legs since she started using the pool.

She finished her daily swim 40 minutes before the pool was evacuated.

She said: "A year ago I stopped swimming completely because I got a rash on my legs.

"Nowadays when I go to the pool, I have to put cream on beforehand and afterwards."

Water tests by the caravan park staff in front of the fire brigade failed to reveal any enhanced levels of chlorine or other chemicals.

The manager of the park, Alexis Camelin, said maintenance workers checked the water three times a day.

He said: "We don't know what the problem was because we checked the chemical and chlorine levels.

"Sometimes people react differently to chlorine.

"We have decided to close the pool until further tests are done.

"We had babies and families swimming at the time but they didn't have any problems."

Caravan park staff said the pool could remain shut for a number of days while further tests are carried out.

A police spokesman said officers were not investigating because they were satisfied the pool was regularly checked and well maintained.