Pollution fears as clear beck turns black

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria
News imageTony Walker The water of a small beck has become a dark grey and black colour. It is opaque and the gravel at the bottom of the water cannot be seen.Tony Walker
Residents have previously contacted the Environment Agency about discolouration

A waterway has become an unnatural black colour, leading to pollution fears among people who live on its banks.

Tony Walker, who has lived in Guisborough for over 50 years, spotted the colour change when he took his dogs for a walk to the bottom of his garden.

He has seen the beck become discoloured in previous months but the alarmingly dark shade of the usually clear water concerned him.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which is investigating the discolouration, said it had sent officers to the scene.

News imageTony Walker The usually clear water of the Guisborough beck has become a dark grey black colour. It is flowing past a muddy bank.Tony Walker
The water of the beck is usually very clear

Walker said: "It runs through the town and right past the bottom of my garden.

"Today it was really really dark. "

It is very concerning and I find it strange that we are told to care for our environment but when we complain nobody seems interested."

The 63-year-old said he had reported discolouration in the beck multiple times in previous months but never received information on what was causing it.

He said the water is usually clear and you can see down to the gravel bed.

The agency said: "We have deployed environment officers to the beck to carry out further investigations."

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