FISH were killed and wildlife was destroyed after a fuel spillage at an industrial estate.

Intoxicating fumes woke up residents in Popeswood and Binfield on Tuesday, January 17 who alerted the fire service and police to investigate the smell at 3.47am near the river Cut.

But it has since emerged the fumes originated from a spillage by a 'third party' at an industrial estate, near Wilstrode Avenue, of which the source is yet to be discovered.

“I was down there and the Environment Agency were doing water quality checks around Jocks Lane going towards Binfield,” said a Bracknell resident, who preferred to remain anonymous.

“We walked through there and there were two men doing checks, they may have been Thames Water or the Environment Agency, I'm not sure.

“They were kitted out with sampling equipment and high-vis jackets, I was wondering if it's the new development.

“There was quite a strong smell of diesel or oil, I think it had been smelt for a few days. I think it killed some fish down stream.”

The Environment Agency said fisheries officers conveyed the site on January 17 and 18 and, traced the pollution to surface water outfall that discharges into the Cut.

“The outfall is a Thames Water asset and we are working with their engineers to locate the source of the pollution and mitigate the impacts,” a spokesman for the Environment Agency said.

“Thames Water have installed booms at the outfall to prevent further discharge into the river and we are still investigating the cause and source of this pollution.”

Thames Valley Police and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed they both attended the scene but handed over the issue to the Environment Agency.

A spokesman from Thames Water said they were asked to attend the site with a tanker to help clean up a 'third party spillage'.

“We've investigated the problem and believe it is due to oil from a nearby industrial estate getting into the surface water drains and into the river,” he said.

David Watkins, the chief officer for strategy, resources and early intervention at Bracknell Forest Council, said he was aware of reports there was a smell of fuel last Tuesday.

“Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service investigated the site and following the investigation the matter was referred to the Environment Agency," he said.