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August 18, 2005 8:39 a.m. EST

Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter

London, England (AHN) - Thousands of residents in southern Wales are urged to stay inside with their windows shut after a suspected leak at a chemical factory Wednesday.

Those living in the Barry, Dinas Powys, Sully and Cadoxton areas are warned after emergency services arrive at the Dow Corning plant in Barry.

Police later announce the released vapors are found to be harmless.

Resident reports that a cloud of smoke several hundred feet high was rising from the plant sparked the alert. According to witnesses, the cloud was followed by the sound of sirens.

Earlier, a spokesman for Dow Corning said the incident was being handled by internal personnel, with emergency crews on standby. A klaxon was sounded to alert local residents following established procedures in the event of an incident.

A South Wales Fire Service spokeswoman says over 70 firefighters and seven officers attended the incident.

The company manufactures silicone, used in thousands of products including shampoos, detergents and car air bags.

The Barry plant has been open since the 1950's and is the U.S. firm's largest site in Europe.