THE Environment Agency has started an investigation into a large paint spillage which caused major disruption on the M606 motorway.

A lorry carrying around 10,000 litres of paint shed its load at 11pm on Friday, prompting a major clear-up operation.

The southbound carriageway between Staygate and the Euroway Industrial Estate was closed from Friday to early this morning as Highways England, the police, fire service and Environment Agency tried to contain the spill.

In the end, the motorway had to be resurfaced overnight on Saturday, before reopening at 2.30am today.

It is understood the incident was caused by a collision between the lorry and a car, although the police have not been able to confirm this.

Locals have since reported seeing the white paint in watercourses as far away as Dewsbury, and the Environment Agency confirmed the substance had now travelled from local becks to the River Calder.

A spokesman said today: “The Environment Agency is continuing to investigate the pollution incident that occurred on the M606 this weekend.

“Our officers have been out again today to carry out further assessments of watercourses downstream, and we have taken water samples from some locations for laboratory analysis.

“The becks around the motorway are now running clear.

“Some of the pollutant is being washed through the system and can be seen in the Calder, although no significant impacts have been reported.

“Our officers will be out again tomorrow to carry out further assessments.”

Anyone who sees any pollution in a watercourse is urged to report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 807060.

The closure of the motorway caused major disruption to motorists over the weekend, with alternative routes often queueing nose-to-tail.

Yesterday, Highways England had described the complex clean-up operation then underway as “involving a HGV that was carrying 10,000 litres of paint”.

A spokesman said: “The vehicles have been moved to the hard shoulder and a major clean-up operation is under way to remove the paint from the road.

“Between 3,000 and 4,000 litres of paint has been spilt on the carriageway and contractors are using a tanker and high pressure hose to try and remove the paint.

“This is a complex operation due to the nature of the spillage and is likely to take some time.”

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency said firefighters had helped by trying “to contain the pollutant in a roadside drain”.

While the paint has been cleared from the surface of the road, it can still be seen in nearby foliage and motorists caught up in the incident have reported getting it on their vehicles.

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin today posted a message on Facebook, after being contacted by constituents concerned about the state of Spen Beck.

She said: “I share concerns about the potential environmental impact, am in contact with the Environmental Agency [sic] and they have assured me they’re monitoring the situation closely. 

“The paint is water-based, in the circumstances this is the best scenario as it means the paint will dilute and wash away and shouldn’t leave any lasting residue in our waterways.

“At the source water is now running clear and the Environmental Agency are very hopeful that all rivers will be running clear by tomorrow morning.”

She said although “no immediate effect on our wildlife has been reported, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any”, and urged anyone who had seen any harm to wildlife to contact her.

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