Experts are working to contain a spillage of heating oil which has leaked from a school oil tank in Swaledale.
The leak has occurred at Reeth Community Primary School, with oil entering a local watercourse.
The environment agency has been called in to help contained the spill.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Environment Agency field teams are responding to reports of an incident at Reeth Primary School, assisting with the clean-up of heating oil which has spilled into a nearby watercourse.
“Officers are using absorbent pads to soak up the oil and to contain the spillage to ensure impacts to the environment are minimised as much as possible.”
North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for strategic resources, Howard Emmett, said: “Reeth Community Primary School reported a suspected leak from its oil tank earlier this month.
“The local authority supported the school to take immediate action and put in place a temporary solution to stop any further leakage and restore heating and hot water to the school. This was done without disruption to pupils’ education. A new heating oil tank is now being sourced.
“Some oil was discovered to have leaked onto a nearby field.
“The Environment Agency was notified and remediation work and soil testing is being undertaken.
“The watercourse is also being tested and we are currently waiting for the results of those tests.
“Preventative measures are also in place to stop oil from seeping into the waterway.”
