Kingston’s Rotunda was evacuated and four children taken to hospital after a suspected gas leak during a film screening this afternoon.

Roads around the building, including Clarence Street and Richmond Road, were partially closed by police so the children could be treated by paramedics.

The roads have now reopened and Kingston Police have said no gas leak was detected.

The Rotunda, which houses Pizza Express, Five Guys and Prezzo restaurants, was evacuated at about 12pm.

A spokeswoman for the London Ambulance Service (LAS) said: “We sent a cycle responder, an incident response officer, a responder by car, two ambulances, and our hazardous area response team to the scene.
“We assessed six children. Four were taken to Epsom General Hospital.”

The cinema has been putting on a number of extra children’s film screenings this week for the half term break.

Mum Zoe Caulfield had been visiting the cinema with her five-year-old son to see Hotel Transylvania 2. 

She said: "We were just leaving [after] lunch. But when we used the loo after the film there were a bunch of kids who were being checked by paramedics on bikes as they felt dizzy and sick.

"When we walked out of the Rotunda there was a police line and hordes of people standing outside with their popcorn."

A police spokesman said: “A number of children were evacuated from the cinema having reported feeling ill.

“They are being treated by LAS.”