An investigation has been launched by environmental health chiefs after a lorry spilled its load of animal waste in Keighley.

Officers were alerted to the incident after reading about it in the press.

The Mercedes-Benz articulated bulk wagon lost part of its cargo of chicken parts at the Hard Ings Road roundabout at about 2pm last Wednesday – as reported in last week’s Keighley News.

The driver of the lorry said he had been forced to brake suddenly, causing the load to shift.

Wagons carrying chicken waste regularly travel through Keighley and it is not the first time loads have been spilled. This week, Keighley Town Council’s watch and transport committee chairman Councillor Graham Mitchell was seeking talks with Bradford Council environmental health officers over the issue.

“One of the things I want to ask is if it’s possible to put restrictions on the carriage of these goods so that the trailers have to be sealed and fitted with some form of plates inside so the loads are sectioned into compartments, helping to avoid any spillage should the vehicle be forced to brake suddenly,” he said.

“Surely such a load should be in a completely sealed container, not just in a trailer with a tarpaulin over the top.”

In the latest incident, chicken waste was spilled across the roundabout and down the west-bound carriageway of the Aire Valley trunk road.

One lane of Hard Ings Road was blocked as a clean-up operation was carried out, causing traffic tailbacks.

Bradford Council’s environmental health manager Ruth Lees said: “No animal waste spillage from a vehicle was reported to Bradford Council.

“If anyone has any information about the incident, particularly concerning the identification of the vehicle involved, we would like to hear from them.

“Bradford Council's environmental health department can be contacted on 01274 431000.”

Companies are not legally required to notify the Council of spillages.