MAGISTRATES fined a Burnley man £2,400 after hearing how he allowed leaking diesel oil from his vehicle scrap yard to pollute a nearby stream.

Frank Owen, who runs Frank Owen Commercial Vehicles Spares, Accrington Road, Burnley, was also ordered to pay £408.24 costs to the Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution.

Reedley magistrates were told yesterday that on October 7 last the Agency received a complaint from a member of the public that there were signs of oil pollution and a smell of diesel at Habergham Clough, near Lowerhouse Lodges, Burnley.

Julie Goulbourne, prosecuting, said environment protection officer Nick Hepworth inspected the stream at Lower Rosegrove Lane and found it had a layer of diesel on its surface. Oil absorbent booms were placed on the stream to soak up the pollution which affected more than a mile of water. Further investigations found a concrete pipe was discharging oil into Habergham Clough. Magistrates were told the pipe came from the direction of a scrap yard operated by Owen.

Miss Goulbourne said Mr Hepworth found oil running with surface water into a site drain. The spillage came from a large oil tank which was being used to store oil taken from dismantled vehicles.

The court heard that Mr Hepworth found that waste oil had leaked through the faulty valve at the base of the tank. Owen pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a condition of a waste management licence and causing polluting matter to enter a surface water drain leading to the stream. He was fined £1,200 on each count.

Speaking after the case Mr Hepworth said: "This oil pollution had potential to cause widespread and long term damage to Lowerhouse Lodges, an important recreational resource for the people of Burnley. If the oil had been contained properly then this accident would not have occurred."