内容摘要：The issue has baffled officials, but project manager Rachael Clifford said: "If we can find the source and rectify it, it's going to be a huge accomplishment."

The issue has baffled officials, but project manager Rachael Clifford said: "If we can find the source and rectify it, it's going to be a huge accomplishment."

"And partly it's a risk management exercise. If we understand what's here, then we're reducing the risk that we need to deal with during the construction phase."People are being urged to avoid a wider area of the canal network after a toxic chemical spill in Walsall.

The spillage was discovered in the waterway on Monday in Pleck, according to the local council which said the Environment Agency (EA) was notified.There was a potentially serious risk to people or their pet's health if they were exposed through direct physical contact with the water, officials added.On Tuesday afternoon, as a precaution, the public were asked to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr, Birmingham.

When the spill was discovered on Monday, it had gone directly into the stretch of canal from Spinks Bridge, Walsall down to Birchills Street Bridge, said the council.The EA was establishing a sampling and testing programme, the local authority added, stating it hoped to reduce the exclusion area as soon as possible.

Anyone exposed to the water who felt unwell should seek medical advice through the NHS 111 service, or phone 999 in an emergency, a spokesperson said.

People were also told not to eat any fish taken from the canal.Alnmouth station is on the East Coast Mainline and there is an hourly bus service running to Alnwick.

The track currently runs a short distance from the purpose-built Lionheart Station to Greenrigg Bridge.Bringing the bridge up to adoptable standards is expected to cost about £255,000, with work needed to install a waterproof deck to prevent water ingress as well as re-pointing and repair work to the arch.

Historic Railways, which is part of the Department for Transport, has agreed to contribute £130,000 to the project and the local authority will provide £125,000, according to theThe county council said the project would bring "wider economic growth, tourism and leisure benefits" to Alnwick.