INVESTIGATIONS were continuing last night into a suspicious leak near the site of a former chemical works.

Environment Agency officials are looking into the origins of a red liquid coming out of a manhole cover and running into a drain in West Auckland Road, Darlington, near the site of the former Darchem plant.

The road was closed following the incident on Saturday and an inquiry launched.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said yesterday: "Samples were taken upstream and downstream in West Beck but there did not appear to be any environmental impact at the time.

"Our investigation is on-going but we believe it was a minor incident."