AN investigation has been launched by the Environment Agency after a tanker spewed oil over a village park and residential gardens.

One family's garden had to be completely dug up to remove contamination after the spill in Melsonby, North Yorkshire, on Thursday afternoon.

Mother-of-three Sylvia Payne, 40, was in her garden when she heard a noise from the road.

She said: "I heard the wagon driver and saw him run back to the wagon. There seemed to be a pipe come off the wagon. The oil was all coming through my garden, over my gravel. It came through the fence like a waterfall.

"The men clearing it up have had to dig up all my gravel."

Mrs Payne, of St James Close, said she was worried that the park, which is behind her home, would be closed. "It would be a shame if it did because it's half-term."

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said the spill appeared to have happened during the transfer of domestic heating oil to an oil tank.

She said the oil company involved, which has not been named, sent an emergency response team straight to the site.

"We were alerted by the council and reacted immediately and went up there.

"By the time we had arrived all the contamination and pollution had been dug up to a six-inch depth and was bagged up, to be disposed of according to our regulations."

She said the water courses had been checked and there was no contamination.

Agency inspectors will return to the village on Monday to continue their investigation.

The spokeswoman said: "We are going to attend to make sure there is no further contamination and we will be talking to the company regarding their procedures."

A Richmondshire District Council spokeswoman said: "The Environment Agency is dealing with this. It is our park and as far as we are aware it is still open."