PEOPLE and pets were urged to stay out of a Witney stream after a second environmental scare hit the town’s waters in the space of a week.

The Environment Agency urged people to avoid Queen Emma’s Dyke on Wednesday after an officer noticed discolouration of the water.

Though believed to be unrelated, the warning followed an earlier incident in which a chemical leak affected the dyke and the River Windrush over the bank holiday weekend.

Serious concerns have been raised over the incidents, with one councillor warning of ‘devastating environmental consequences’.

The first incident took place on Saturday, with people warned to stay out of the River Windrush after firefighters were called amid reports that chemicals were leaking from a factory into Queen Emma’s Dyke.

While working to identify and resolve the leak, Environment Agency officers working in the area on Wednesday noticed another issue in the dyke.

Speaking last Wednesday, a spokesman said: “Due to an effective partnership response the pollution in the Queen Emma’s Dyke was contained and the potential of harm to wildlife and the local environment was reduced.

“We continue to investigate this incident and will consider if enforcement action is appropriate.

“However while an officer was surveying Queen Emma’s Dyke assessing the impact of the recent chemical spill we became aware of a second incident affecting the watercourse.

“A short stretch of the dyke is now discoloured light brown. Officers are investigating and, while the second incident is in the same location, we believe it is not a repeat of the spillage that occurred over the weekend. The new discharge is from a different outfall on the opposite bank.

“We advise people and pets to stay out of the water until we have investigated.”

A warning was issued on Saturday after Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue were called to Avenue One in the early hours of the morning.

Five fire engines were sent along with a specialist hazardous materials vehicles to help identify the chemicals, stop the leak and protect the area.

As the firefighters worked to avoid further damage, the Environment Agency launched an investigation into the cause of the spill.

At present, it is not known where the leak came from or exactly which chemicals spilled into the river.

District councillor for Witney Andrew Coles said: “The polluting of our rivers and watercourses is an incredibly serious matter.

“With modern practices high focus on health and safety and chemical control, it's extremely worrying that these leaks repeatedly keep happening. The damage caused by chemical leaks cannot be underestimated and are totally unacceptable.”

In October last year high levels of ammonia in Queen Emma's Dyke and Colwell Brook resulted in the death of 1,700 fish.