Everything we know so far about 4,000-litre chemical spill in Walsall canal system

The spillage in Pleck was reported on Monday, prompting a multi-agency response formed of nine groups including the Environment Agency and emergency services.

Walsall Council said on Tuesday morning a spill had leaked into the canal between Spinks Bridge and Birchills Street Bridge in Pleck and closed off the affected area.

Residents were told of potentially serious health risks to both themselves and their pets and were urged to avoid the water.

The local authority then extended its warning to walkers, anglers and swimmers to stay away from a further stretch of the canal system as a "precautionary measure".

More than 14 miles of the canal and towpaths were placed in the warning, from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr.

'Major incident'

Later that day the spillage was declared a "major incident", as Environment Agency crews began to carry out tests and found sodium cyanide and two other chemicals in the water.

Sodium cyanide dissolves in water and can cause severe health effects or even prove fatal for those who come into direct physical contact with it.

People were advised not to enter or go near the canals in Walsall, though drinking water was said not to be affected.

Dead fish were even spotted floating on top of the water, which one resident described as a "horrible" thing to see.

One angling expert feared the pollution could result in a "total wipe out" of the population of aquatic wildlife in the canals.

Company admits 'chemical incident'

On Wednesday, the source of the toxic chemical spill was identified as Anochrome Ltd, a surface coatings and metal finishing company based on Reservoir Place in Pleck.

It prompted an investigation by the Environment Agency which was still ongoing on Friday.

On Thursday, the firm admitted a "chemical incident" had occurred in the early hours of Monday.

A statement read: "Regrettably, as a result, some of the released chemicals entered a canal in Walsall. Our immediate response was to notify the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water.

"Our senior management team has been, and remain, on-site working collaboratively with all relevant authorities and agencies to minimise and contain the spill.

"In addition, from the moment we were aware of the incident, we have made all our facilities available to the authorities and agencies in attendance, including in-house laboratory testing facilities.

"The safety of our community and the environment is our top priority. We are focused on limiting the impact of this incident and will provide further updates as they become available."

The Environment Agency warned it would take "strong action" against the company if it was found guilty of wrongdoing.

A temporary dam was then installed surrounding the site where the chemical leak took place which the Canal and River Trust said would "control the spread of the pollution".

Parts of the canal reopen

There was some good news on Friday as Walsall Council announced that sections of the canal in Walsall and neighbouring areas had reopened following laboratory tests by the Environment Agency.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "Lab testing now shows that water quality is within public health guidelines in significant stretches of the canal that have previously been closed.

"These areas have been reopened to the public and normal activities can resume. However, as a further precaution people are being warned not to eat fish from the canal."

A one-kilometre section of the canal, from James Bridge on Bentley Mill Way in Darlaston to the west, to Rollingmill Street, Walsall to the east, however remained closed as of Friday afternoon.

'Unacceptable'

The Environment Agency has now revealed the spill was formed of around 4,000 litres of chemicals, which area director Marc Lidderth branded "unacceptable".

He said while a large stretch of the canal had reopened, there was still a risk to the public and urged people to "stay away" from the one-kilometre area which was still affected.

Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star on Friday morning, Mr Lidderth said: "At the moment it is too early to say in terms of how soon this part of the canal will reopen.

"What we are urging is making sure the public keep up to date with the information coming out to make sure the public stay away from this part of the canal."

Walsall Council has advised anyone who has been exposed – in the form of direct physical contact – with water along the affected stretch of the canal and is feeling unwell to call 111 or 999 in an emergency.