A TEAM of Environment Agency officers are currently tackling a serious pollution incident in Cumbria which has caused the death of thousands of fish.

The pollution at Skitwath and Dacre Becks, near Penruddock, was reported by several members of the public who noticed dead fish and brown discolouration of the river on Tuesday afternoon and immediately called the Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline.

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Specialist Environment Officers and Fisheries Officers quickly attended the scene to collect evidence and assess the extent of the pollution. From samples taken and from initial investigations it is clear that slurry has affected several miles of river, leading to the death of thousands of trout, salmon and other species of fish.

The source of the pollution has now been identified and stopped and the Environment Agency has deployed specialist equipment to help raise the oxygen levels in the water, and to attempt to minimise further impacts on fish and other wildlife.   Officers will remain onsite for the next few days to monitor the situation.

Slurry is a serious pollutant that can have devastating effects if it gets into a river or stream. Stewart Mounsey, Environment Manager for Cumbria said: “Slurry kills – once it’s in the water it very quickly reduces oxygen levels and kills fish, insects and affects the whole ecosystem.

"If a farmer notices a problem on their farm, they must get in touch with us immediately so that we can minimise the impacts as soon as possible. The same goes for members of the public, who are a valuable source of information on pollution for us. Our incident hotline is 0800 807060 and open 24/7.”