A FUEL spillage caused by an overturned fuel tanker on the A66 near Keswick is thought to have caused the death of a number of fish, according to a statement from the Environment Agency.

A collision involving a fuel tanker took place in the earlier hours of Saturday morning, November 2 leaving a stretch of road between the A591 at Keswick and the A5091 at Troutbeck closed throughout the weekend. 

The tanker left the carriageway and came to rest on the embankment Recovery of the vehicle took place over the weekend.

Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and the Environment Agency were all in attendance as well as National Highways area team crews.

Environment Agency officers also attended the scene, in an attempt to minimise any impacts to the environment that may have happened - with the organisation saying that subsequent clean up operations by partners had been 'successful'.

34 fish have been found dead in the nearby Naddle Beck, with officers believing their deaths had been caused as a result of pollution.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Environment Agency officers attended an incident on the A66 near Keswick over the weekend along with our partners from emergency services, following a spillage of fuel from a tanker crash.

“We attended the site to assess and minimise any impacts to the environment. Thankfully, impacts were minimal, although unfortunately, we did find 34 dead fish in Naddle Beck which we believe were caused by the pollution.

"The subsequent clean-up operation by our partners was successful.

“Its important people remember to report possible pollution to our incident line 24/7/ on 0800 807060.”

In a statement on social media, National Highways North West said: "The recovery and clean-up work on the A66 in Cumbria between the A591Keswick and A5091 Troutbeck is now complete.

"Contractors have removed the closures and reopened the road in both directions.

"Residual delays in the area are beginning to ease."