COMPANIES responsible for dumping 17 drums of dangerous chemicals were today warned they were risking a £50,000 fine or five years in jail.

Eight drums of hydrochloric acid and three of caustic soda were found in a lane leading to Longshoot Farm, off Broadhead Road, Edgworth, last week.

A car was seen leaving the lane at high speed.

And on Monday, six drums of hydrochloric acid were dumped in a river off Johnson New Road, Hoddlesden.

In Edgworth, a small amount of caustic soda spilled out and caused minimal contamination.But in Hoddlesden, all the drums were sealed shut.

However, both incidents caused alarm and the borough's environmental health teams and the Environment Agency have launched an investigation.

It is believed the chemicals were dumped by a business or businesses trying to avoid charges to correctly dispose of the waste.

Earlier this year, all companies producing hazardous waste had to register with the Environment Agency in a bid to ensure it was dispose of correctly.

This coincided with the introduction of stricter rules about the disposal of hazardous waste at landfills.

A spokesman for the agency said: "Any hazardous waste that had got into the river would have altered the Ph of the water and killed the fish.

"Any producer of hazardous waste must register with the Environment Agency."

She added that illegal dumping could result in fines of up to £50,000 or prison for the culprit.