Water in a rural stream 'ran black for hours' following a suspected toxic spill.
Anglers recovered scores of dead fish from Skeeby Beck in North Yorkshire last week. The incident is thought to affect a seven-mile stretch of Skeeby Beck and its tributaries Gilling Beck and Holme Beck.
The beck 'ran black for hours on end', Olly Shepherd, who runs Fly Fishing Yorkshire, told the Northern Echo. The Environment Agency yesterday said it had been 'on site to assess ecological impacts'.
Marina Gibson, founder of The Northern Fishing School has set up a fundraiser to help Mr Shepherd's businesses which has been hit hard by the incident. The campaign has so far raised more than £4,000.
Marina said: "A great friend and fellow guide lost part of his livelihood yesterday, a stretch that he has nurtured over the years with absolute dedication and love. It fell victim to a pollution incident that is being investigated, but who knows how long it will take to find out what happened.
"Olly has been picking up dead fish for hours, but this is only the surface. It’s the entire ecosystem beyond the naked eye that has been affected by this incident and who knows how long it will take to rejuvenate.
"I’m raising funds so that Olly and his team can put in place a stocking program and habitat improvement plan to revive this beloved environment.
"The river is dead, and we need to help Olly get it back."
