THE Environment Agency is investigating after a half-mile stretch of water was contaminated with 1,000 gallons of sewage.

The Agency was alerted after reports of foul smells coming from the tributary of Waterside Brook in Hoddlesden.

Eleven-year-old John Ferguson, a pupil of St Paul's Primary School in the village, raised the alarm after pupils and staff noticed a strong fertiliser smell.

"He decided to investigate on his way home and took the initiative to ring the council," said his mother Sharon.

The source of the contamination was traced to a manhole at the junction of Harwood Lane and Hoddlesden Road where it is thought the waste - probably from a septic tank - was deliberately tipped from a tanker into the drainage system. Environment protection staff from the agency and workmen from Blackburn with Darwen Council battled to stop the pollution reaching Hoddlesden Reservoir by building a dam.

The reservoir is popular with local anglers and it is not yet known how many fish have been affected by the contamination.

Paul Parkinson, the Agency's area environment protection officer, said: "We are working to clean up the waste and continuing investigations.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have information or has seen a person or vehicle near the site to contact us."

Clean-up work is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

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