Polluted river where 50 fish found dead now 'safe'

There is no longer any need to keep pets or livestock away from a river following a fire and explosion at a chemical factory, officials have said.

About 50 dead fish were found in the nearby River Alyn following the blaze at the Synthite factory on Denbigh Road in Mold, Flintshire, on 30 April.

Natural Resources Wales said monitoring showed pollution levels had since "fallen sharply" and were now within "safe levels".

It said the effect on biodiversity had been "localised to the immediate stretch of river neighbouring the factory fire and fish are now returning to the area".

"There is no longer any need to keep pets or livestock away from the water," it advised.

"The multi-agency clean-up operation and recovery phase will continue over the coming weeks."

It said staff would continue routine water sampling on the river.