THE Environment Agency Wales is investigating a slurry spill near Monmouth.

Agency officers are investigating a spill which has polluted a Monmouthshire river tributary.

During a farm inspection, officers discovered that a slurry leak was causing a tributary of the River Trothy near Monmouth to run black for around 400 metres.

The discharge from two slurry lagoons and a dirty water pipe created foam and a strong odour of slurry, although no dead fish have been observed.

The pollution was brought under control last Tuesday (19th March) and the Agency is currently carrying out a biological survey to assess the impact on the water quality and fish life.

A spokesperson from Environment Agency Wales said: "The past year has been exceptionally wet and slurry storage and disposal is especially challenging for livestock farmers, but the Agency can advise farmers how to do this properly to avoid this type of incident."

General advice on slurry storage and slurry spreading is available by contacting the Agency on 03708 506 506.

Specific slurry storage advice, which was produced to help farmers through this winter, is available at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/135941.aspx">www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/sectors/135941.aspx

If local people spot any further signs of pollution in the river they should report it to the Agency's incident hotline on 0800 807060.