WILDLIFE in the Stroud area has been put at risk after vandals punctured a 2,500-litre oil container at a property in Oakridge Lynch.

This led to a quantity of oil leaking into a nearby stream, which runs through the village down into Chalford and into the River Frome.

The stream runs through the otter enclosure at the home of Daphne and Martin Neville. They alerted the Environment Agency, which used booms to try to prevent the oil spreading. However, due to the geography of the area some of it remains in the watercourse.

"My husband was forced to remove the otters from the stream because the oil could have seriously harmed them," said Daphne, who has looked after otters for more than 30 years.

"Most of the oil has been cleared up now but it has left an overwhelming stench."

Anyone with information about the vandalism - which happened between 5pm on Thursday, January 7 and 8am on Saturday, January 8 - should call Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident number 155 of January 8 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.