AN OIL spill which has affected the River Irvine has had a "very minor impact" according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

What is believed to be diesel oil made its way into the body of water after a tanker overturned near the Moorfield roundabout in Kilmarnock on Thursday, March 2.

Following this, SEPA officers were seen to be in attendance at the river in the days which followed.

Measures to mitigate the impacts of this were then put in place, by an oil spillage contracter, and could then be seen over the past week.

The specialist oil spillage contractor was appointed by the tanker owner’s insurance provider.

SEPA have since returned to the river to assess the impact on local sealife.

They confirmed that there had been no evidence of any impact on the fish population though a very minor impact on the ecology of the Garrier Burn and Carmel Water was noted.

This saw three aquatic invertebrates found dead in the Garrier Burn (0.5 per cent of the total population) and two aquatic invertebrates were found dead in Carmel Water (0.7 per cent of the total population).

A SEPA spokesperson commented: "On Thursday March 2, we were notified by emergency services of a road traffic incident on the A71 that resulted in the release of oil from a tanker to the River Irvine.

“A SEPA officer attended the same day and subsequent days to assess any impact. Guidance was provided to the specialist oil spillage contractor carrying out pollution mitigation and clean-up work. 

"A SEPA ecologist carried out a survey of the River Irvine, Garrier Burn and Carmel Water. While there was no evidence of any impact on the fish population, a very minor impact on the ecology of the Garrier Burn and Carmel Water was noted.

“We urge anyone who spots signs of pollution to contact SEPA as soon as possible via the Pollution Hotline 0800 80 70 60 or online at www.sepa.org.uk/report.”