Fuel oil 'likely flushed into river by heavy rain'

The substance on the surface of the River Tyne is thought to have been old fuel

Oil spotted on the River Tyne was likely the result of heavy rain flushing fuel through drains, the Environment Agency (EA) says.

The organisation was contacted on Wednesday after a substance was seen on water stretching from Dunston to the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.

Local resident Andrew Smith, who reported the incident, described it as "quite extensive".

The EA said it would continue to work with local firms to "ensure fuel is well managed on sites".

Mr Smith, who chairs the Friends of Dunston Staiths group which helps maintain a nearby wooden structure once used to load coal on to ships, said it was "not the first time" he had seen it happen on the river.

"It's a worry when there’s so much birdlife and other wildlife along the river now, including the occasional seal and otters," he explained.

“It was settling on to the mud flats as the tide was going out, which is also not good.”

'Great concern'

An EA spokesperson said inspectors visited the area with initial enquiries suggesting it was "older fuel oil which has started to break apart".

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the incident had "likely been caused by the intense rainfall over recent days" with the substance "flushed into the river through surface water drains.

“This has happened previously during similar wet weather events and we continue to work with local businesses to ensure fuel is well managed on sites,” he added.

The Tyne Rivers Trust, an environmental charity dedicated to looking after the river and its catchment area, said it would continue to "monitor the incident".

Chief executive Dr Ceri Gibson said pollution incidents were "of great concern" and that the organisation would look for "any opportunities to achieve a long-term solution".