Part of the River Trent in North Staffordshire has turned electric blue and bright orange after clothing dyes were accidentally released into the water

•  The Environment Agency have said that no fish or wildlife were seen in distress

Areas of the River Trent in North Staffordshire have turned bright orange and electric blue after clothing dyes were accidentally dumped into the water.

The Environment Agency said it was aware of the discolouration of the River Trent downstream in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Photos show the water has turned royal blue in one part and orange in another section.

The exact location has not been released at this stage. The Environment Agency has this evening moved to reassure people that no fish or wildlife had been seen in distress, while samples showed no cause for concern.

However, the agency has recommended people and pets avoid the water whilst it remained and to contact them if they had any concerns.

Part of the River Trent in North Staffordshire has turned bright orange after clothing dyes were accidentally released into the water

In other areas it turned electric blue, prompting the Environment Agency’s assurances that no wildlife appeared to be in distress

Writing on Twitter the agency said: ‘We’re aware of discolouration of the River Trent in Stoke-on-Trent caused by the accidental release of clothing dyes. No fish or wildlife are in distress but we recommend people and pets avoid the water whilst the colour remains.’

The Environment Agency has not confirmed where the dyes originated from.

It comes after the river turned a mysterious brown colour in February before disappearing and reappearing again in April.

River bailiff John Anderson, of the Burton Trent Partnership told Staffordshire Live at the time that the partnership was ‘set up to allow all user groups on the Trent in Burton to collaborate to make the river a nicer place for all’.

He added: ‘Unfortunately, we seem plagued with incidents along the river.’

‘The recent infamous orange/brown colouring is just the tip of the iceberg. Since then there has been mysterious foam at Branston and now this discolouration. This is not acceptable and we at Burton Trent Partnership would like some answers.’

Mr Anderson said that all incidents of pollution are ‘illegal and must never be trivialised or accepted’. He also called for culprits to be fined ‘heavily’. 

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