AN oil slick on the River Skerne in Darlington yesterday raised fears that fish and ducks were being endangered.

A local man contacted the Environment Agency when he saw the oil slick on the river, at the bottom of Priestgate.

He said he saw fish floating to the surface, but there was no evidence of this when The Northern Echo investigated yesterday.

A spokeswoman from the Environment Agency said that the oil had created no significant environmental damage.

"The oil came from a surface water outfall belonging to Northumbria Water, and we are working with them to trace the source.

"However, the amount of rain that has come down will have dispersed the oil, and the damage is likely to be aesthetic rather than have any major environmental effect."