AROUND 45 gallons of oil have been dumped on a North-East allotment where poultry are kept.

Chickens and geese have been covered in the industrial waste after it spilled across several gardens in Craghead, near Stanley, County Durham.

Peter Richardson, chairman of Bloemfontein Allotment Association, said the owner is seeking advice from the RSPCA, but fears some of his birds may have to be put down.

He said: “He has so far been using washing up liquid to break the oil up. The goose was covered and so were a couple of hens. It is a mess.

“He has been trying to clean some of them up but might have to kill the odd one or two if they are too bad.

“Most people are animal lovers. They are like people’s pets and they get attached to them. It is not very nice. He seemed pretty upset about it.”

It is believed the oil was dumped over night between Thursday and Friday.

Mr Richardson said there are fears the quality of soil will be affected and that the oil could get into the water supply.

He said: “I am no expert but I would say they would have to get the Environment Agency out to strip it back because once it gets into the soil it will soak in.

“There is a drain in that area that leads to the burn. Once it gets into there it is going to be a bigger problem.”

Mr Richardson said the allotment holders have suffered from problems from fly tippers in the past but nothing on this scale.

He said: “It is a former pit village and lot of people have had gardens for a long time.

“They are quite annoyed by. If it affects one person it affects quite a few. If it happens to one it could happen to someone else.

“There is quite a bit of fly tipping up there, mattresses and stuff like that.

“With the oil, this is one of the biggest we have had.”

Police have been informed and anyone with information is asked to contact them on the non-emergency number, 101.