AN angry angler is protesting about liquids spilling out of a former tip and polluting the River Aire near Carleton.

Martin James, a broadcaster on the environment, natural history and fishing for the BBC, noticed the substance which he describes as "orange" and "furry" on the banks and in the water near Carleton Stone bridge in August.

Mr James, who is also a member of the Bradford Angling Association, told the Herald this week: "What concerns us is that we have had loads and loads of rainfall and the water levels are high so the stuff has been diluted, but what happens when the rain stops?

"All the fish we use to see - chub, perch, trout, roach, pike and bream - are no longer there and children play in the river in the holidays.We are concerned about what this substance is and what effects it might have."

He added that he had been complaining to both the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire County Council but nothing had been done.

The association has also contacted its local MP Nigel Evans and Michael Meacher, the Environment Minister, without success.

The problem, according to North Yorkshire County Council and the Environment Agency, has been going on for years - even before the council took over the tip from the former rural district council in 1974.

Environment Agency officials say a pump which takes liquid from the refuse to the sewers has broken, and leachate, an iron oxide pollutant, is leaking into the river.

The substance is described by the Environment Agency as 'minor' and not harmful to the river life.

The tip was operated by North Yorkshire County Council but reverted back to the land owner in 1989.

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said it was still the council's responsibility to fix the problem.

North Yorkshire is negotiating with the landlord to get access to the site, but the Environment Agency said that as far as it was concerned things were not happening "quick enough".

And a spokesman from the county council said: "We agree that things are not happening as quickly as we would have liked but we can't go onto the site to do the work. If we could we would get the work done within 48 hours."

Mr James described the situation as 'crazy'.

John Preston, from the Skipton Anglers' Association, said: "We are aware of the problem. A few years ago they paved around the tip to stop the liquid leaking to the river. We haven't heard anything since then.

"As far as we are aware the pollution does not harm the fish. The iron leaves deposits but the water itself is clear. You couldn't say it was a major problem.

"It is one of many small instances of pollution that combine to create an environment which is not fish friendly."