THE Environment Agency is appealing for witnesses in a bid to track down fly-tippers responsible for two chemical spills less than a quarter of a mile from each other.

The tippers dumped chemical tanks containing what was believed to be waste oil in lay-bys on the B1278 Fishburn to Butterwick road in County Durham.

Firefighters in chemical protection suits made safe both tanks, which were leaking fluid, and mopped up the spills.

One was found on Thursday on the B1278. The other was discovered the following day near the Bird in Hand pub, on the same road.

The liquid in both containers is being tested by the Environment Agency, but it is not thought to be hazardous.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: "We are investigating this at the moment and if anyone saw anything suspicious can they get in touch."

Assistant Divisional Officer Peter Bancroft, of County Durham Fire and Rescue, said: "To do this type of thing is totally against the law, and these people obviously did not want to pay to dispose of the tanks properly, so they just dumped them."

Anyone who has any information about the illegal dumping of waste is asked to call the Environment Agency hotline on (0800) 807060.