A SUPERMARKET chain has admitted breaching environmental laws following an incident that saw petrol leak into a river and kill dozens of fish.

Tesco Stores Limited also admitted breaking health and safety laws when its legal team appeared at Burnley Crown Court.

The charges relate to a fuel leak at Tesco petrol filling station in Syke Street, Haslingden, in July 2014.

At the time it was reported that thousands of litres of fuel leaked into Langwood Brook from a Tesco petrol pump which led to the discovery of dozens of dead fish.

Days after the leak the company said the problem had been solved and there was no danger to the public.

Yesterday the supermarket pleaded guilty to breaching regulations in causing the spill, following a joint prosecution brought by the Environment Agency and Lancashire Trading Standards.

The supermarket admitted causing a water discharge activity not under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit contrary to Regulation 12(1)(b) and Regulation 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

And contravening Regulation 6(8) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 contrary to Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The supermarket will be sentenced by the Recorder of Preston Judge Mark Brown at a hearing in Preston Crown Court on January 11. That hearing is expected to last up to three days.

Prosecuting, Richard Bradley, said he would be relying on the evidence of an expert in the use and storage of dangerous chemicals.

Defending, Mark Harris said his client had acted quickly and efficiently and pleaded guilty when the case came to court.

Speaking after the hearing a Tesco spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing inquiry.”

At the time of the leak a Tesco spokesman said: “We stopped the leak on Thursday morning and the fire service have advised us that there is no immediate danger to the public.

"The Environment Agency are now working with our engineers and other partner agencies to ensure the ground is cleaned up.

"Our store colleagues have been in touch with local residents to apologise for any smells caused by the leak and are keeping them closely updated as the clean-up progresses.”