A major London road was blocked off today and a hospital was put into lockdown after a woman ingested a toxic substance in the early hours of this morning.

Emergency services were called to an address in Thornton Heath, Croydon, at around 3.45 am this morning (April 4) to reports of a woman having consumed poison.

The woman was taken to hospital and was found to have been "in possession of a possible hazardous substance".

Two police officers were also exposed to the substance, and have subsequently been hospitalised, where they remain "under observation".

Three people, including two police officers, were sent to hospital - which has since been locked down

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 3.46 am by London Ambulance Service to reports of a woman having ingested poison at an address in Thornton Heath.

"The woman was taken to a south London hospital by LAS where she was found to be in possession of a possible hazardous substance.

"Officers and London Fire Brigade (LFB) attended Mayday Hospital and safety cordons and closures were established while specialist officers examined the item and safety procedures were enacted.

"Ambulances and emergency vehicles are being given access to the hospital throughout the incident response.

"Two officers were exposed to the substance. They remain at the hospital under observation."

Following the incident, a section of London Road, an A-road which runs past Croydon University Hospital, was closed off - but traffic data site Inrix said it had since reopened.

GB News has approached the London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police for comment.