A RIVER running through a North Yorkshire beauty spot has become a blot on the landscape after being polluted by hundreds of gallons of ink.

Visitors to Crimple Valley, near the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, were alarmed to see the normally clear waters of the River Crimple turn dark blue.

Youngsters who paddled in the water saw their feet turn blue and a dog emerged with an unwanted blue rinse.

An investigation is already under way by the Environment Agency, which confirmed copying ink was to blame for the colour change.

A spokesman said they had discovered the source of the ink discharge but would not reveal the firm involved.

"Because we have been without any heavy rain recently the ink has not washed away. It will do so when a heavy rainfall comes," said the spokesman.

He said: "Precautions have now been put in place by the firm involved to avoid a recurrence."

The agency said circumstances surrounding the incident would now be the subject of further investigation.

The beck and river have been running blue for more than two weeks.

It is believed copying ink has been disposed of into a surface water drain which was next to a foul drain.

The ink found its way into Hookstone Beck and on to the River Crimple, which runs through Crimple Valley and beneath the Crimple Valley Leeds-York railway viaduct.

The valley, which is criss-crossed by footpaths, is a popular area for walkers.

The agency said the ink was not harmful to humans, animals or fish.