FIRE and rescue officers from Strood prevented what could have been an environmental disaster in the village of Higham, near Rochester, at the weekend.

A lorry, with three 1,000 litre plastic containers full of diesel fuel on board, was set on fire in Canal Road. As the containers melted, diesel escaped into the Gravesend-Higham Canal.

Because the canal crosses a nearby marshland bird reserve, there was a danger that the oil could have polluted watercourses used by rare species, many of which are nesting or raising young at this time of year.

Firefighters stretched plastic booms across the canal either side of the spillage, to contain it and keep the birds safe.