Farmer fined for 'pouring slurry over cliff'

A farmer from north Devon has been fined £7,173 for discharging slurry over a cliff close to a popular beach and footpath.

The case was brought by the Environment Agency, after a member of public witnessed slurry entering the sea near Spekes Mill.

On visiting the farm, officers noticed "a strong smell" and saw the slurry "cascading down a cliff".

A sample taken at the scene revealed that the liquid was around ten times more harmful than raw sewage.

Commenting on the case, Environment Agency spokesman Phil Siddall said: "This pollution resulted from the defendant's farm being very heavily stocked and a lack of slurry storage and suitable land for the spreading of animal waste and dirty water."

Farmers must observe best practice at all times in order to safeguard the environment, he added.

In related news, an abattoir was fined £5,000 last week for allowing effluent containing blood to pollute a river tributary in Wigton.

Lauren Steadman