Fuel spill causes marina evacuation

THE fuel spill on the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal (EA close Nene link) has caused Gayton Marina to be evacuated and the Grand Union Canal closed.

Thousands of litres of highly inflammable fuel leaked into the canal from Gayton Marina where a main fuel pipeline was severed, causing ten boaters to be treated for breathing difficulties from the vapour from the fuel and all the residents to be evacuated, Mick Fitzgibbons tells us.

Half mile of inflammable fuel

The waterway is now covered for over half a mile with highly inflammable fuel, and completely sealed-off from boating.

Firefighters were called to Gayton Marina on Saturday afternoon where they discovered the leak from the pipeline and immediately attempted to try and stop it, with both the Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust brought in.

The danger from the fuel meant that everyone from the marina had to be evacuated, with the police searching all the boats to make sure no one was left, with the residents placed in temporary accommodation after being assessed by East Midlands Ambulance people.

Caused deliberately

It was discovered that the pipeline leak was caused deliberately, with the police appealing for witnesses who may have seen anything early on Saturday morning.

The leak has been stopped and the Environment Agency is attempting to remove fuel from the water's surface, but there is yet no indication when the waterway will re-open.