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Fish-killer pollution disperses

Contamination in waterways through the Black Country and Staffordshire that killed more than 10,000 fish and spread more than eight miles has dispersed, Environment Agency bosses said today.

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Contamination in waterways through the Black Country and Staffordshire that killed more than 10,000 fish and spread more than eight miles has dispersed, Environment Agency bosses said today.

The Birmingham Old Main Line Canal became contaminated following an arson attack that destroyed two warehouses containing aerosols, paints and oils in Wolverhampton. The chemicals caused oxygen levels to plummet, despite oxygen jets being used along the affected stretch.

The Environment Agency and British Waterways also restricted boat movements to slow down the contamination.

But it wasn't enough to stop it spreading to the Wyrley & Essington Canal in Willenhall.

More than 10,000 fish died, while 22,000 more were rescued from the water. However, the Environment Agency today said the pollution has dispersed and the oxygen levels in the water have returned to levels suitable for sustaining fish once again.

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