Cyanide spill classed as major incident

THE cyanide spill spreading from the Walsall Canal has now been classed as a major incident by the combined agencies.

In addition to the Walsall Canal the navigations and towpaths of the Tame Valley Canal and the Rushall Canal are closed as affected by the dangerous chemical spill, Janet Friend reports.

Not to move

Boaters on these waterways are told not to move to avoid spreading the chemical but to telephone 0303 040 4040 for advice,

The public have been warned to avoid the towpaths of 12 miles of waterway 'running from the heart of Walsall borough to neighbouring Birmingham, and taking in interconnected waterways across Wednesbury, Tipton and West Bromwich'.

It has been discovered that the spill came from Anochrome Ltd, that deals in surface coatings and sealing and admits to a 'chemical incident' released into the Walsall waterway during the early hours of Monday.

The canal is now littered with dead fish, but we are told these are being left in view of the dangers to anyone involved in collecting them.