A DAIRY which allowed cattle slurry to pollute one of the New Forest's most popular sailing harbours has been fined £2,000.

Magistrates at Lyndhurst were told that an environment Agency officer was called to Keyhaven near Lymington in July last year, after reports that an outfall pipe was draining green and foul-smelling liquid into the harbour.

The officer found the water near the pipe was thick with scum.

He also found an orange buoy stuffed into a drain in an apparent attempt to block any overflow of

slurry which had been recently spread on a nearby field.

J&D Edgar Ltd of Aubrey Farm, Keyhaven, pleaded guilty to causing the pollution, but the court was told they had no direct knowledge of the incident, having employed a contractor to spread the slurry.

Peter Bilbrough, for the Environment Agency, said: "We accept that the company employed a contractor. Nevertheless it was under a duty to ensure the work was carried out properly and with due consideration for the environment."

A spokesman for J&D Edgar Ltd told magistrates the company had paid £1,743 in clean-up costs. As well as the fine of £2,000, the Bench imposed costs of £750.