Drinks giant Diageo says it is 'sincerely sorry' after toxic pollution killed 'thousands' of fish in a River Spey burn

Knockando Burn, near Diageo's Cardhu Distillery in Moray, is believed to have been contaminated by caustic soda that entered the waterway in late April or early May. The Spey Fishery Board's director has described a 2km stretch as 'destroyed,' with recovery potentially taking years. Fly fishers report that the burn's salmon population was wiped out. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) says its investigation remains live and that a report could be referred to prosecutors.

Local fishermen first alerted Sepa after spotting a white, paint-like coating on Carron Burn near Aberlour.

Eels, frogs and birds died alongside the fish.

Diageo says it has updated its controls and is discussing a long-term restoration plan.