THREE companies have been fined a total of £24,500 for their involvement in polluting the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Accrington.

The firms pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safe disposal of their waste at a hearing before Hyndburn magistrates.

Spa Web Limited, of Metcalf Drive, Altham Industrial Estate, admitted three charges and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,351 in court costs.

Edward Turnbull and Company Limited, of Tottington, Bury admitted three charges and was fined £10,500 and ordered to pay £1,658 costs.

And Ralken Colours, of Bradford, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £1,058 after admitting three charges.

Magistrates heard the charges were brought because the companies failed to ensure the firm which was disposing of their waste followed correct procedures. Environment Agency investigators were called in after a section of the canal turned green in August, 1998.

More than 2,000 empty drums which had contained chemicals were found in a warehouse close to the canal bank.

It was also discovered that residue from a drum washing machine in the warehouse was running directly into the canal.

Drums which had been used by the three companies were found in the storage building.

Strict regulations require companies to ensure their waste is disposed of safely and guidelines were not followed.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution, said: "We hope this sentence will act as a deterrent to other companies and the Environment Agency will not hesitate to bring actions of this nature against companies who flout environmental legislation."

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