Oil pollution causes 'nauseating' stench near homes

The Environment Agency (EA) is clearing up a large amount of oil that has polluted a ditch near homes in Market Harborough.

Officials said they believed the oil was tipped down a drain on the A6, near the eastern edge of the town, and flowed into the watercourse.

The pollution, near Simborough Way, was discovered on Friday morning.

The EA said it had deployed a tanker to stop the pollution spreading on Saturday, when 38 tonnes - about two tanker loads - of contaminated liquid was removed from the area as well as 400kg of contaminated soil.

An agency spokesperson said samples of the oil had been taken for testing and the source of the pollution had been traced.

The agency has appealed for anyone with information about the pollution to contact them.

Adrian Troughton, who lives near the watercourse, said: "It has turned 400m (1,312ft) of the stream black.

"The stench is overpowering. It's absolutely nauseating."

Sarah Hill, Leicestershire county councillor for the area, added: "There's a major clear-up going on.

"It's a smelly, dieselly slick in an area that's popular with dog walkers. It's pretty horrible.

"It's only about 60m (196ft) from the nearest homes.

"There was a fear it would end up in the River Welland, but I think that has been prevented."

The BBC asked the EA how much oil had leaked into the ditch.

In a statement, the agency said: "We are aware of an oil pollution in a drainage ditch adjacent to the A6 road on the eastern side of Market Harborough.

"We ask that the public avoids the site until the clean-up is complete, to allow the contractors to continue their important work."

The agency said it had not seen an impact on wildlife and that it was monitoring the situation as the clean-up continued on Monday.

Harborough District Council leader Phil Knowles said the authority had offered to help the EA with the clean-up.

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