It's the Irn Bru Burn! St Andrews river mysteriously turns ORANGE overnight leading locals to rename it after Scotland's famous fizzy drink
- Environmental officers have launched investigation into colour of Kinness Burn
- Water along the stretch has been transformed after heavy rain and snowfall
- Locals have since renamed the stream the Irn Bru Burn after the fizzy drink Locals have named a river the Irn Bru Burn after the water suddenly turned bright orange like the fizzy drink.
Environmental officers have launched an investigation into the cause of discolouration of the Kinness Burn, in St Andrews, Fife.
Water along the entire stretch has been transformed following heavy rain and snowfall in the area in recent days.Some locals have since renamed transformed the Kinness Burn, the 'Irn Bru Burn' due to the colour being similar to the famous fizzy drink.
Environmental officers have launched an investigation into the cause of discolouration of the Kinness Burn, in St Andrews, FifeOthers say resembles the chocolate river in Willie Wonka and Chocolate Factory film after photographs and video of the strange phenomenon were posted on social media.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has since been alerted and are to despatch an inspection team to determine the cause of the problem, as well as whether the contamination poses a risk to wildlife and the environment.
Some locals have since renamed transformed the Kinness Burn, the 'Irn Bru Burn' due to the colour being similar to the famous fizzy drink
It is thought to be the result of water from historic mine workings which contains naturally occurring metals.
St Andrews resident, Barbara Boyd, who witnessed the mystery discolouration said it's the first time she has seen anything like it.
'The water was running a real bright orange colour all the way along the burn at Lade Braes and looked very strange,' she said.
St Andrews Liberal Democrat councillor Jane-Anne Liston, said the new colour was certainly cause for investigation and has now called on SEPA officers to determine the cause of the drastic change in water colour.
She said: 'I've never seen Kinness Burn this colour before which is not normal and certainly must be investigated.
'Sometimes it's iron discolouration from old mine workings or something similar but I'm not aware of any old mines in that part of the constituency.
'Another possibility is that it is a red ochre dye that is sometimes used in farming.
Water along the entire stretch has been transformed following heavy rain and snowfall in the area in recent days.
'I'm hoping that it is nothing harmful to the local habitat but being so unusual and such a bright colour that doesn't seem to have appeared before, I've alerted SEPA officers to come and investigate to allay any fears the public may have.'
A SEPA spokesperson said the agency is investigating but suspects it is related to historic mine workings.
'SEPA would like to thank members of the public for reporting the pollution incident in the Kinness Burn in St Andrews,' they said.
'We believe the discolouration may be associated with historic mine workings.
'Water from the mine workings contains naturally occurring metals, such as iron, from the mined rocks. When mine water flows into a river, the iron settles on the bed of the river, causing orange staining.
'SEPA is working with the Coal Authority to investigate the source of the pollution.'
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