IPSWICH: Borough chiefs were left red-faced today after it was revealed that a trail of oil through the town centre was left by one of their own mechanical street sweepers.

Shoppers have been dodging a sand trail that appeared through the town centre on Sunday morning.

It can now be revealed that one of Ipswich Borough Council’s street sweepers caused the mess after a pipe cracked and spilt oil through the town’s pedestrianised area.

For half-a-mile the vehicle, which was on an early-morning clean-up, snaked its way along the front of shops leaving a trail of oil in its tracks.

Council officials reacted quickly and found sand to cover the trail in the hope that the oil would be absorbed.

The sandy strip stretches from the Vergo department store in Carr Street to Superdrug in Westgate Street.

A spokeswoman for Ipswich Borough Council said: “A pipe split on one of our mechanical street sweepers and caused the oil to spill on the street.

“We put the sand down to ensure that the area was safe and to soak up and absorb the oil.

“The sand will remain there until either tomorrow or Thursday, when all the oil has been absorbed. The sand will then be cleaned up.”

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