Barnet Hospital was taped off this evening after reports of a “suspicious chemical substance.”

The Accident & Emergency Department was closed just after 5pm today and people were not allowed in or out.

A forensic team put plastic sheets over the windows.

Police officers were being treated at the unit after being called to reports of criminal damage to a home in Lancaster Road, Barnet, at around 2pm today.

While they were arresting a suspect, officers came into contact with an unknown irritant on the walls.

They were taken to the A&E unit, which was temporarily closed as a precaution.

London Fire Brigade attended the hospital. The substance was assessed and found to be non-harmful. There was no contamination.

Both officers have since been discharged.

The suspect was taken into custody at a north London police station.

There is no suggestion the incident was terror-related.