A major incident has been declared following a toxic chemical spillage in a West Midlands canal - with experts testing for deadly sodium cyanide.



Residents are being told to stay away from a 14 mile stretch of waterways across Walsall, Birmingham and West Bromwich following the spill on Monday (12/8).

The Environment Agency has been testing the canal for poisonous sodium cyanide and other dangerous chemicals in the affected area.

Walsall Council warned there is a 'potential serious health risk' to people or animals who has had direct physical contact with the contaminated water.

Public Health England says exposure to sodium cyanide, which can dissolve in water, in high enough concentrations can be fatal.

Ingesting cyanide salts releases cyanide into the body and can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, changes in heart rate and loss of consciousness.

Councillor Garry Perry, leader of Walsall Council, said: "Our priority is the safety of our residents. "

"I share their concerns and hope to see this incident resolved as soon as possible."

"We are working closely with our partners to manage this situation which has been declared a major incident. "

"For your own safety please avoid this area of the canal and its towpaths."

A Walsall Council spokesperson said: "Agencies across the West Midland Local Resilience Forum are treating the chemical spillage into a canal in Walsall as a major incident, with a multi-agency response."

"The spillage from a site in Walsall is being investigated. "

"As it has gone into the canal in Walsall, as a precautionary measure, we are asking the public to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr."

"We can confirm the Environment Agency have developed a testing regime to test the water for sodium cyanide and other chemicals."

The worrying discovery was originally made between Spinks Bridge and Birchills Street Bridge in the Pleck area of Walsall.

Police cordoned off towpaths while locals described seeing dead fish floating on the surface of the water.

Local resident Martyn Lever said: "We use the canal all the time for leisure, recreation and we walk the dog along there, plus I volunteer litter picking along there and we try to keep the area as clean and tidy as we can."

"When you see something like this, standing on the bridge and seeing dead fish on the top, it's a horrible thing to see."

"And the thing is that two days ago, it was fine, but we saw the pollution yesterday morning and it seems like it was allowed to happen."

"We can't do anything at the moment as we've heard it might be cyanide and I've heard that dead fish have been seen as far down as Walsall town centre."

Another resident said: "This is the first I've heard of it, but it's very worrying to hear about it as I know a lot of people who walk down around the canal and go fishing in it."

"I don't know what might have caused it as there's a few industrial buildings around here, including a new build, but it's just worrying to hear about the canal being polluted."

The multi-agency response includes nine groups, including the Environment Agency, the UKHSA, Walsall and Sandwell Councils, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, the West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal and River Trust and Severn Trent Water.

Walsall Council has said that anyone exposed along the affected stretch of canal water and is feeling unwell should seek health advice via the 111 number or 999 in an emergency.