A wildlife habitat in Spen has been excavated after a company on Bradford's Euroway trading estate polluted a local beck.

Following the spillage of white polyester resin from a tanker at Jacuzzi UK into Hollowfield Beck at Oakenshaw, the land had to be cleared and the beck dug out to prevent further contamination.

The resin found its way into the trading estate's balancing pond, which catches rainwater from roofs and car parks. But following heavy rain, the pond overflowed into the beck and the resin sank to the stream bed.

Environmental group Spen Clearwater Revival is now hoping the problem will be rectified before wildlife - including a pair of Canada Geese which migrate to the area to raise their young - suffers further.

Eric Bowers, from Spen Clearwater Revival, said: "Pollution has dribbled through before, but this time it was a major leak. It was so bad that the stream bed and surrounding land had to be removed.

"Contractors for Jacuzzi UK worked on it 24 hours a day for a week to get rid of the white, sticky substance which has coated every grain of sand, every plant and tree and cannot be washed off.

"It now looks like a site from World War One with mud everywhere. It was a beautiful area and our aim is to get the wildlife back again."

Another group member, Councillor Gordon North, pictured, said: "Wildlife in the River Spen is used to coping with light pollution, but nothing on this scale. We will soon be launching an industrial charter for firms on the Euroway estate. If they stick to good environmental practice they will get a charter mark certificate."

A spokesman from the Environment Agency said the pollution would have an impact on the watercourse, although there were no fish and only a small amount of invertebrates living in the beck.

"Any incidents such as this are subject to the Agency's enforcement prosecution procedure and will be looked at," he said. "It is too early to say whether any action will be taken. An extensive restoration project will be carried out on the beck and its surroundings and we are consulting with Bradford Council."

A spokesman for Jacuzzi UK said it was the first big spillage the company had suffered. "We have had a number of meetings with the Environment Agency and are sorting this out," he said.

A public meeting for anyone concerned about the pollution is to be held at 7.30pm on February 12, at Oakenshaw Community Centre.

Anyone who wishes to report any polluting of the beck can call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.