The Toxic Trent

Stoke’s reputation as one of the less desirable parts of the country to live in rose still further this week with news that a pleasant-sounding mixture of cyanide and raw sewage was gliding down the Trent.  

Concerned-looking newscasters, who presumably should have been wearing protective clothing for health and safety reasons, reported earnestly that the deadly chemical cyanide and a quantity of raw sewage have leaked into a 30-mile stretch of the River Trent in Staffordshire.

Thousands of fish have died and people are being warned to stay away from the river while the incident is controlled.

The Environment Agency said pollution on the stretch between Stoke-on-Trent and Yoxall posed a health risk.

A spokeswoman said the warning applied to the public, farmers, anglers, boaters and pet owners.

Alan Walters, from the Environment Agency, told BBC News the incident had had “a huge impact”.

Quite where the lethal dose of cyanide has come from appears to be a bit of a mystery.  Andrew Marsh, from Severn Trent Water, said a leak of cyanide, which had not been caused by the company, had knocked out a water treatment plant and this had led to a discharge of sewage.

A spokeswoman said the company did not get its water from the Trent and the water supply had not been affected “at all”.

The Environment Agency said the pollution was expected to reach Burton upon Trent by late afternoon on Wednesday.  Clearly this is not good news for fans of Burton beer… unless you like your tipple strongly flavoured.

It is thought the risk to the public may have been reduced by then but officers are continuing to monitor the situation.

A spokeswoman said an investigation had begun into the cause but could not give further information into the source of the contamination for legal reasons.

Thousands of fish have already died but it is important that farm animals and dogs are kept out of the water.

“We are tracking the pollution as it moves downstream,” the spokeswoman added.

A spokeswoman for the RSPCA urged members of the public not to go near any animals in distress but instead to report any sightings to the charity.

She said: “For those people with livestock we would remind them to get them away from the area as safely as possible.” 

Sound advice – which is what most people probably did when they saw Stoke’s exalted position in the worst town to live in Britain list.