AN apology has been demanded by councillors from an oil giant over a petrol leak which caused homes to be evacuated and left residents with headaches and nausea.

Eleven properties had to be cleared following the leak at Shell’s Spring Bank filling station, run by Spar, in Manchester Road, Nelson. The incident also killed at least 50 fish in nearby Pendle Water.

Councillors are furious they have had no apology since the March 10 spillage, or assurances that there will be no repeat.

They have called for a report from the Environment Agency to be presented to the Nelson Area Committee detailing how fuel seeped into drains and a watercourse.

Coun Asjad Mahmood told colleagues: “The situation could have been averted if the petrol storage tanks had been maintained properly and there had been inspections.”

A Spar spokesman said: “We take the safety of our customers and local communities very seriously and apologise for the disruption.”