THE Environment Agency says it is happy with action taken to stop mine water spilling on to a Durham footpath.

Earlier this year, a discharge pipe on the city's riverbanks, near Durham Cathedral, became blocked, sending ochre-coloured water on to the path.

The city's Labour MP, Gerry Steinberg, called in the Coal Authority, which is responsible for getting rid of water from old workings, and the Environment Agency, raising his concern about possible pollution.

The Coal Authority has unblocked the pipe and replaced a section of it. The pipe is now working properly, sending water into the River Wear.

The authority and the Environment Agency say there was no damage done to the environment.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We believe it is the only thing that could really have been done. In the short-term, it is the solution to the problem.

"In the long-term, maybe the Coal Authority could look at pumping from another area. If, and when, that happens is up to them. There is no real pollution impact because there is a continuous flow of river by that point, and the river is very wide."

Mr Steinberg has welcomed the action taken to stop the problem.