SCRAP metal firm European Metal Recycling Ltd has been fined £50,000 after admitting polluting a Swindon stream.

EMR, based at Gypsy Lane, Stratton, pleaded guilty to causing oil to enter the adjacent Hreod Burna and one of its tributaries between February 1 and June 5, 2001, and April 20 to April 26, 2001.

Prosecuting on behalf of the Environment Agency, Richard Banwell said: "The Burna has suffered from oil pollution intermittently over a number of years, but the agency has previously been unable to positively identify the source of the contaminating oil. This led to a situation where oil absorbent booms were permanently installed in the Burna by Thames Water Utilities, with considerable quantities of oil collected."

Mr Banwell said an investigation of the metal recycling plant, started in March 2001, revealed the site's water surface drainage 'interceptor' tanks, designed to remove oil from surface water, were not working effectively.

Drains were found which bypassed the tanks and part of the yard and discharged into a separate drainage system altogether also bypassing safeguards.

Site inspections showed an unusually large amount of oily silt running off the yard, with a variety of oils running off machinery and scrap in almost every part of the site.

Mr Banwell said: "Despite the mixture in both type and quantity of different oils, scientific analysis showed an almost complete match, confirming that the oil pollution of the Hreod Burna was caused by EMR's activities."

No fish died, he said, but there was significant deterioration of water quality for invertebrate species.

Defending, Richard Kimblin stressed the firm had taken expert advice to try to install a proper drainage system, work on which is in progress. He said the firm had spent £250,000 on the drainage project, and added: "I say it goes well for the company that they acted quickly and without regard to cost when the agency brought the matter to their attention."

Passing sentence, Judge John McNaught said: "The nature of the pollutant was noxious and the effects are long term on that branch of the waterway.

It has affected biological species and there will be a good deal of cleaning up to be done to restore the Hreod Burna to its previous state."

Rod Gould, environmental management team leader for the Environment Agency, said: "The lesson is that the environment comes at the forefront; don't respect it, then expect to pay the penalty."

Mike Seale, EMR's mid west regional director, said: "We took immediate action to remediate the pollution. A full review of the drainage infrastructure and management systems has been carried out over a lengthy period of time.

An extensive site improvement programme has already commenced, including connection to the foul sewer utilising newly available technology." EMR was ordered to pay £8,490 costs.