RESIDENTS have raised pollution concerns with the Environment Agency after oil was seen flowing down the River Stour yesterday evening (Sunday, June 18).

A number of people spotted the spillage, which started in Cradley, and were quick to raise the alarm with the environment chiefs.

Wollaston resident Richard Willetts, whose Richardson Drive garden backs onto the river, told the News: “This morning (Monday), I went down to the bottom of my garden at about 7am and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“The river is severely polluted. There is so much of what looks like clear oil in the river, which keeps on flowing down.

“This river has been immaculate over the three years I have been living here. The water is usually very clear, so I was straight onto the phone to the Environment Agency.

“There are many fish that swim around, and recently we have been seeing plenty of baby fish, so we dread to think what this pollution might do to them.

“Somebody needs taking to task for this.”

The Environment Agency, which visited the river on Sunday, could not initially find where the oil leak was coming from.

But after joining together with Severn Trent Water, the organisations found the source of the pollution was from vegetable oil which had entered the river via a road drain in Cradley.

Chris Withnell, team leader with the Environment Agency, which is running an investigation into the incident, said: “The oil has been stopped from entering the drain, and we are working with the local council to organise a clean-up.

“The oil that has got into the water is flowing downstream, and will slowly disperse as it gets more and more diluted.

“While the oil on the water looks unpleasant, the impacts on the environment are low.”

Despite this, the agency is urging anyone who finds any adverse impact on the river, or any fish in distress, to call their 24/7 incident line on 0800 80 70 60.