A COMPANY has completed a new form of restoration sanction after polluting a brook.

The Environment Agency accepted an enforcement undertaking offer from Bloor Homes Limited after it polluted Barrow Brook off the River Ribble in September 2015, while building houses at Pendle Hill View.

Environment Agency staff observed the site's main surface water outfall allowing silty water into the brook.

The new enforcement allows companies to make an offer to the Environment Agency to pay for or carry out environmental improvements.

The agency chooses to accept this and it stops the case from going to court, where a larger fine may be handed out, and no environment benefit would take place.

The undertaking included a £35,000 donation to the Ribble Rivers Trust for use in its 'brilliance project'.

Jackie Monk, an Environment Agency officer said: "Enforcement undertakings allow polluters to positively address and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents.

"When appropriate they offer quicker and more directly beneficial resolution than a court prosecution."

The contamination had stopped and the company took action to prevent recurrence and a filtration system to remove silt from the water was installed.