A FARMER claims he was treated like a "common criminal" after slurry spilled on to flood defences on his land.

Geoff Bean, who runs Saltine Lodge Farm in Kirkbymoorside, claims the Environment Agency (EA) treated him with contempt despite his protests that the spill happened as a result of last year's floods.

A complaint was made after slurry was found to have almost breached flood defences and entered the nearby River Dove.

The EA launched an investigation which revealed that the slurry spill had occurred on Mr Bean's land.

"At the time of inspection no slurry was seen to be entering the River Dove," said the Environment Agency in a letter to Mr Bean, which he has shown to the Evening Press.

"The flood defences running alongside the eastern bank had been heavily covered with slurry.

"Spreading a large volume of slurry on to a vulnerable location such as this presents a serious risk of surface run-off to the nearby river."

The letter then points out to Mr Bean that it is an offence to knowingly allow solid waste matter to pollute controlled water.

"Such an offence on summary conviction carries a maximum penalty of a £20,000 fine and/or imprisonment of up to six months, with even higher penalties in the High Court."

Mr Bean says he is disgusted with the attitude of the EA and claims he is being treated like a common criminal.

"They seem to have ignored the fact that all the overwhelming pressure on my very expensive and modern slurry storage system was on account of the appalling flooding of most of the farmland in this area," he said.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: "We carefully pointed out to Mr Bean the law on this matter. We were simply following up a complaint in the manner in which we are required to."

Updated: 11:10 Thursday, July 26, 2001