A 10-YEAR mystery of sewage contaminating a brook running through the middle of Shipton-under-Wychwood has been solved.

Residents have reported small amounts of sewage leaking into Trots Brook for about a decade. But all attempts to find the source proved fruitless, until now.

The Environment Agency has finally tracked down the leak to an unconnected drainage pipe at a group of cottages at Shipton Court.

The agency said the property’s owner had agreed to repair the fault and expected work to be completed “in the next couple of weeks”.

Shipton-under-Wychwood Parish Council deputy chairman Mike Watson said: “There was an issue raised about 10 years ago but tests proved inconclusive. One of the parishioners raised concerns about 18 months ago, because they had seen contamination again, and I reactivated the various files with the agency.

“The problem isn’t particularly bad, because the property is a holiday let and is not heavily used, but if it became residential again it would become a big problem. We’re very pleased it will finally be fixed.”

Former parish council chairman Alan Vickers, whose home is next to the brook, said: “I’m very satisfied. The Environment Agency got a good guy on the case, who did the necessary, but it should have been done years ago.”

Environment Agency officer Cag Ketenci traced the source of the leak by putting luminous dye into the drains of several homes near the brook, then tracking the progress of the dye into the watercourse.

Mr Ketenci said: “Unfortunately, this kind of problem is fairly common and occurs when drainage pipes are not connected properly.”