Concern over oily liquid in Walsall canal
An oil-like substance has polluted a mile-long stretch of a canal in Walsall.
The black liquid was first spotted in and around the Wyrley & Essington Canal near Fryers Road on Tuesday and it has been spreading further each day.
It is not yet known what the liquid is or how it ended up in the canal.
WATCH: Video shows affected canal
Resident Claire Turner said she was "absolutely shocked" when she saw the colour of the canal.
She said: "My other half noticed it on Tuesday when he saw it, it's really bad.
"We've phoned the Canal and River Trust and Environment Agency to report it.
"I took pictures of it on Friday and it was really bad. Oil was in the water and all the reeds were black.
"I put my fingers on the bottom of the reeds and my fingers were covered in oil. I don't know where it's come from.
"It looks to me like someone has thrown an oil drum in there, but there's no evidence of that."
The 43-year-old arboretum operative said there are normally dozens of birds on that section of the canal but she has not seen many for days.
"My other half said it was bad but when I saw it I was absolutely shocked, I couldn't believe it," she added.
"If something had been done earlier it might have stopped spreading."
The Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust have been contacted for comment.
