Furious residents said they were "disgusted" by the Environment Agency's lack of action to stem a six-day petrol spill from an industrial estate.

The oily chemical flowed downstream into their gardens, leaving the water surface with "rings of oily colours like those on a filling station forecourt floor on a rainy day and a scummy deposit".

Some of the residents in Stanton Harcourt, near Witney, were unable to use their gardens due to petrol odours drifting up from the water.

"A petrochemical smell" was first noticed by residents Caroline Fuchs and Simon Griffiths while in their garden.

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Ms Fuchs said: "I am disgusted by the smell but even more so by the lack of action from the Environment Agency.

"I have emailed the EA for the fourth time, while I got an apology and was told it would be reported to the area manager, we've had no response so far at our property.

"It is deeply disappointing and makes us furious to think of the effect it is having on our environment."

Mr Griffiths said: "We keep bees with the hive next to the brook where you can see the thick brown, oily substance and experience its pungent smell.

"We hope that the bees are not affected by this but we are much more concerned by the broader impact this spill will have on the environment, as it flows on towards the Thames and as the brook flows through South Leigh and Sutton."

Another resident complained: “It is very worrying as the brook passes through the play park where most of village youngsters play."

District councillor Lysette Nicholls, who spent a week chasing the government agency, said: "While residents’ gardens smelled like petrol stations, householders were waiting for five days for a stream to be cleared of the chemical spill at source which was reported to the EA as coming from the village's industrial estate."

She said reports were first made on Sunday April 7, but no action was taken until Saturday, April 13.

"I am angry that the Environment Agency took so long to respond to all our calls and emails, let alone acted on this ghastly situation," she said.

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"It is not acceptable and other areas along the brook need addressing not just the source of the spill."

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said the incident was "an accidental spill of fuel and assessed as of minor risk to the environment".

"An Environment Agency officer followed this up with the companies involved who had already engaged remediation specialists to clear the oil, which had unfortunately entered the Black Ditch in Stanton Harcourt.

“We have followed this up today [April 16] to ensure further clear up is carried out as we are aware there was still residual oil caught in vegetation and against a bridge on the watercourse.”