A POLLUTION leak in a Rossendale brook has had a “devastating” effect on the fish population.

Officers at the Environmental Agency were visiting local businesses yesterday in the attempt to trace the source of a deadly transparent liquid which leaked into Whitewell Brook near Waterfoot.

The odourless spill covers a three-kilometre stretch of the brook from the road bridge at Burnley Road East junction and Shaw Clough Road.

Gordon Whitaker, of the Environment Agency, said: “This is a large scale pollution incident, which has had a devastating effect on the local fish population.

“We are working to identify the source of the pollution, and to limit any further environmental damage.

“It appears to be a clear liquid which has no noticeable smell.

“We have to identify the source to stop it as quickly as we can, and then we must identify what it actually is.”

It is understood the spill occurred on Wednesday but local people can expect schools of dead fish to float to the surface of the Brook in the next few days.

Ted Wilson, manager of Cowpe Reservoir, said: “We are lucky here at Cowpe Reservoir being 1000ft above sea level, but there is no doubt the news about the pollution in a local brook is distressing.

“Things like this are very serious indeed and they have to be stopped.

“Touch wood, we have never had any similar incidents here and after hearing about Whitwell water, it does distress you.”

Coun Peter Steen, portfolio holder for the council’s environmental services, said: “It is imperative that people come forward and inform the environmental agency about what has happened.”

On Friday water quality officers said that the affected area was improving due to the mass dilution of the chemical with the Brook water.

It will be a matter of days until the fishes which have been killed rise to the surface.

To contact the Environmental Agency call 0800 80 70 60.