Tanker spillage clean-up in Kirkharle will take weeks

The tanker spilled two thirds of its 38,000 litre load

The clean-up of 27,000 litres of aviation fuel spilt in Northumberland is expected to take several weeks, according to the Environment Agency.

The A696 near Kirkharle was closed for more than 30 hours after a tanker overturned into a ditch on Monday.

Trenches and booms are in use to stop the fuel reaching the River Wansbeck.

Dave Edwardson, from the Environment Agency, said: "With a spillage of such a large quantity of oil we're not going to be able to contain all of the fuel."

"There will be some impacts off-site," he said.

"People in the surrounding areas may see some evidence on the surface of the water courses. They'll certainly notice a smell."

The Environment Agency said traces of aviation fuel had been found in the River Wansbeck but not a significant amount.

They said they would monitor the area and river courses while the pumping operation continued.

Lynn Charlton, who farms the land that is now being drained, said the road had a "notorious bend" which had been the site of a number of crashes.