THERE was an oil crisis of a different kind when a lorry spilled its load in Kidderminster causing traffic chaos.

Four hundred gallons of lubricating oil flooded on to Kidderminster's ring road yesterday lunchtime.

Firefighters from Kidderminster's White Watch as well as the brigade's environmental protection unit from Stourport-on-Severn attended the accident, which happened between the Comberton Road island and the Horse Fair island.

Leading firefighter Reg Moule said the lorry had attempted to negotiate a traffic island when its container moved and a valve opened.

Worcestershire County Council sent a gritting lorry to cover the carriageway with sand to soak up the oil and the Environmental Agency was notified in case the oil had entered the watercourse.

"Absorbants were put down to pick up the oil and due to the fact the oil was considered non-hazardous, the vehicle returned to the depot," said Cormac Quigley, team leader for environment protection at the Environment Agency.

"If the oil had been considered hazardous special procedures for disposal would have been put in place."

Mr Quigley said there had been "very slight iridescence" in the watercourse, which indicated some oil had entered, but that it was insignificant amount.

"It was no more than a trickle and it was caught in time so there was no environmental impact whatsoever," said Mr Quigley.

He said no decision had yet been made on whether any action would be taken against the company.