EMERGENCY services were called to Crays Hill recreation ground after a man died in a suspected chemical incident in a car.

Emergency services were called to the parking area at Crays Hill recreation ground, in Harding Elms Road at about 6pm. Three fire engines, two ambulances and four police cars rushed to the scene and cordoned off the car park.

Acting sargeant Nathan Lay said police couldn’t confirm any details about the incident, including whether it was being treated as suspicious.

He said: “All I can confirm at this stage is that it is not connected with the travellers’ eviction at Dale Farm.” A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters believed it was a chemical incident.

Lorna Marsh, a spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “It was our crew that forced entry to the car and the patient was not taken to hospital.” She confirmed the man was already in a cardiac arrest when they arrived at the scene.

Footballers arriving at the recreation ground for training were turned away by police, and fire crews were still in attendance at 8pm.