Sewage leak hits Kinmel Bay football pitch

Workmen were called out overnight to tackle the leak on a pitch off St Asaph Avenue, Kinmel Bay

Environment officials say a potentially major pollution incident has been averted after a burst pipe caused a major sewage leak at Conwy.

Environment Agency Wales said its biggest concern was to stop any discharge from getting into a nearby estuary and onto a beach at Kinmel Bay.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water worked through the night at the scene at a football pitch off St Asaph Avenue.

Workers removed sewage in tankers and held some at a storage site.

'Continuing to monitor'

The football field affected has been cordoned off and it is believed all the sewage has been removed.

Bill Darwin, from Kinmel Bay and Towyn Community Association which looks after the pitch, said he understood the field would not be usable for some weeks.

"It was a major spillage," he said. "It was like a lake - you couldn't see half the pitch."

Environment Agency Wales said officers are monitoring the nearby Clwyd estuary for any discharge.

Tankers were used to collect the spillage

Dafydd Roberts from the agency said: "The response from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has been very positive.

"They reported the incident to us last night and have been working through the night to fix the problem and contain any spill.

"We hope that by their actions we will have avoided a major pollution of an important part of the coastline.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and are hoping we do not see any discharge."

The pitch is used by a number of local teams including Sunday league pub team, May Quay, which was due to play at home this weekend, and Towyn Juniors FC.

"We're gutted," said a May Quay team spokesman.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has been asked to comment.