The body of a dead sheep has been found floating in a reservoir that supplies drinking water to thousands of homes across Fife, prompting major health concerns.
Walkers came across the decomposed carcase in Castlehill Reservoir near Glendevon last Wednesday.
Retired shepherdess Mary MacQueen (73), from Falkland, contacted The Courier to voice her anger at the situation.
Ms MacQueen, who worked with sheep for more than 27 years, is worried bacteria from the animal will filter through into people’s homes.
She had been enjoying an evening stroll with her partner Dave and a friend when they came across the rotting animal.
“The smell is absolutely terrible we noticed it before we saw the sheep,” she said.
“Judging by the state of it, I would say it must have been lying in the water for nearly a fortnight.
“Bits of skin and wool can be seen floating nearby and if you look closely at the carcase you can see maggots squirming around it’s truly disgusting.”
She contacted Scottish Water last week to report the find and said she was promised it would be removed by Friday.
However the swollen body was still immersed in the reservoir on Monday night, while the authorities decide how best to get it out.
Ms MacQueen said, “The longer they leave it in the water the more the body will break up, which means more and more germs will leak into the water.
“I don’t see how hard it is to remove. Will it take someone being admitted to hospital with E. coli or worse to get some action?”
A Scottish Water spokesman confirmed staff were dealing with the incident, adding, “The sheep’s carcase will be removed as soon as possible.”
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also been notified.