A CHEMICAL spill has decimated the wildlife of a borough stream after it was contaminated with more than 100 litres of a cleaning fluid used in portable toilets.

On Good Friday, Petty's Brook was stained blue by the concentrated anti-bacterial cleaner. Fish were seen struggling to breathe in the contaminated waters and a strong chemical smell clung to the area around Meadowland, Chineham.

The spill was reported at 8.30am and teams from the environment Agency and Thames Water launched a clean-up operation lasting most of the day.

Despite Thames Water removing more than 2,000 litres of water and flushing clean water through the contaminated stretch, the stream remained blue until Saturday evening.

Lucy Widmore, media officer for the Environment Agency, said: "Frog spawn has been killed, as have fish - it's a small brook but this is a very serious incident.

"The Environment Agency and Thames Water were on site and have cleaned out the area as much as they can, but ultimately they have to let nature run its course and dilute the rest of the contaminant."

Doreen Dove, 46, who lives next to the polluted stretch of Petty's Brook, said the spill has ruined one of the neighbourhood's most attractive features.

She said: "It was really pretty, it was one of the reasons we moved in here."

Her husband Barry Dove, 46, added: "It's usually really clear, you can see right down to the bottom and you can see the fish moving around."

Miss Widmore said there was no chance of drinking water being contaminated, but she could not confirm whether the cleaning fluid accidentally leaked or was deliberately dumped into Petty's Brook.

However, the Environment Agency is looking to trace the source.

"We believe it came from a nearby industrial estate and we are investigating that with a possible view to prosecution," said Miss Widmore.

Martin Biermann, borough councillor for Chineham, backed the Environment Agency's tough stance.

He said: "This is a great disappointment for us, it's environmental vandalism and I hope the Environment Agency takes action against those responsible."

First published: Tuesday, March 29