Spaniel contaminated in brook
ATOXIC spill in a secluded stream on Runcorn’s outskirts may have killed fish and left one dog so badly contaminated it gave her owner a headache.
The Environment Agency said it was ‘aware’ of a ‘potential pollution’ issue at Keckwick Brook on Red Brow Lane following an incident on Wednesday, when a pet springer spaniel jumped in the water, ‘had a good splash around’, and came out smelling of turps.
Dog walker Jacqui Morris, of Murdishaw, said Blu took a dip in the brook on the evening of Wednesday, July 1, and although nothing seemed untoward, the smell emanating from the pup became strong when they returned home.
Initially it was not clear where it was coming from, but Jacqui awoke in the night with a headache and the air thick with the smell of turps.
She realised it must have been the water when a relative sent a text to say it must have been the brook, which is usually clear and used by dogs and even children to play in.
The smell of turps defied her repeated efforts to wash it off Blu, whose coat seemed ‘shiny’ and ‘glossy’.
Fortunately there was no sign of injury to the spaniel and the dog was booked in to see the vets on Friday, July 3, to be checked over.
When the Weekly News visited the scene with Jacqui last Thursday, July 2, the brook was giving off a strong stench of what smelled ‘like turps, it was a really strong solvent smell’, and a dead fish appeared to be floating in the water.
The sense of mystery heightened with the arrival of a Cheshire police rural crime vehicle plus a police van containing several officers, who disembarked and began looking around including towards the water, although they said they were not in the area for the same reason.
Jacqui said social media users had reported something similar or involving diesel being in the brook further north at Bog Wood near Sandymoor.
Describing when she realised Blu was covered, Jacqui said: “The fur was a really odd colour but you could smell it on there.
“I phoned the vets and I’ve got to make sure she’s not vomiting and watch her breathing.
“She’s going to the vets tomorrow (Friday, July 3) to check her over.
“It would have been different if the little one (her other dog) had gone in, they have difficulty with their breathing.
“I could smell it all night, she had a lot on her.
“As I said it was really strong by that big tree (by the brook), we got a huge whiff of it.”
She added: “When we come down here, she always runs down here at the start, and she came out and ran further across and got into the brook and had a good splash around there.
“She seemed fine and we didn’t notice anything until we got in the house.
“I thought my son had knocked something over, like white spirits.
“It was so strong.” An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: “The Environment Agency are aware of a potential pollution to Keckwick Brook in Runcorn.
“If members of the public suspect pollution or other environmental incidents they should call the Environment Agency’s free 24-hour national incident hotline on 0800 807 060.”