A LANCASTER road was sealed off last week after a wagon bound for Nightingale Hall Farm spilled tallow onto the highway.

The spillage on Quernmore Road made it difficult to drive with a number of vehicles slipping on the greasy road surface.

Two cars collided and police sealed off the road while council workmen treated the surface.

But local residents and campaigners trying to have the animal waste reprocessing plant relocated claim enough is enough.

"Quernmore Road is very steep and if it's covered with animal fat it gets greasy and is very dangerous," said local campaigner, Sue Paylor.

"This sort of thing has happened before but as far as I know no one has ever been prosecuted. Why is that? Tallow is nasty stuff and poses a health risk. Quernmore Road is always busy and is used by lots of schoolchildren. Nightingale Hall Farm must be relocated."

A police spokesman said that there was traffic chaos following the closure of the road.

She said: "A bulk tanker leaked tallow on the road surface which resulted in the entire route being closed. A collision between two vehicles did take place as a result of the leak but there were no injuries. We understand that there could have been more serious consequences. The Highway Authority was called in to oversee the clean up operation and the entire route had to be gritted. An investigation is now under way but we understand a faulty valve might be to blame."

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