Oily film appears on the Ashton Canal leaving swans and geese distressed

RSPB called to help distressed wildfowl covered in the substance

By
Paul Britton
12:58, 28 DEC 2018
UPDATED13:09, 28 DEC 2018


A clean-up operation is underway after an unpleasant, oily film appeared on the surface of the water in the Ashton Canal in Tameside.

RSPB experts were called out to help distressed swans, geese and other wildfowl after their plumage was covered in the substance.

According to locals, it's believed to possibly be grease, although the Canal and River Trust said it couldn't determine exactly what the substance was.

Our photographs, taken at Droylsden Marina, show dozens of specialist mats have been placed onto the water's surface in a bid to soak up the substance.

The marina is situated at the start of nine miles of lock-free waterway on the Ashton and Lower Peak Forest canals to Marple Aqueduct.

Continued