Walsall: Local company admits it is behind 'serious' chemical spill as around 100 fish die in canal

A local company has said it is responsible for a spillage of toxic chemicals after around 100 fish died in a West Midlands canal that is being tested for sodium cyanide and other substances.

Anochrome Ltd, a supplier of specialist surface coatings and other services, said in a statement on Wednesday a "chemical incident occurred" at its site in Walsall early on Monday and "regrettably, as a result, some of the released chemicals entered a canal in Walsall."

It said it had immediately contacted the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water and senior managers were working on site with "all relevant agencies" to minimise and contain the spill.

Walsall Council said the Environment Agency told it about a spillage that went directly into the canal in Pleck, West Midlands, on Monday.

A major incident was declared, involving police, the fire service, the Canal and Rivers Trust and Severn Trent Water.

There is potentially a "serious risk to health" if people or their pets are exposed to the chemical by touching the water, the council said.

Exposure to sodium cyanide can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, changes in heart rate, and loss of consciousness, Public Health England says on its website.

Ingesting cyanide salts, which can dissolve in water, releases cyanide into the body, the agency adds.

In high enough concentrations, it can be fatal.

Marc Lidderth, the Environment Agency area director for the West Midlands, said it was "a serious pollution incident" which was "unacceptable" and it was investigating "how it escaped their site and entered the water system".

He said: "We have seen maybe 100 fish that have been killed along this stretch of the canal", adding that, as well as sodium cyanide, they had found sodium hydroxide and possibly zinc.

A cordon is in place to protect the public covering an "extended area of the canal and towpaths" from the "Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr," Walsall Council said.

Mr Lidderth said they hope to reduce it once more is known about the concentrations of the chemicals.

Anyone who has taken fish from the canal is advised not to eat it.

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

"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."

Sodium cyanide is used in industry for metal cleaning, plating, extraction, and photography.