A kingfisher was injured by the diesel spill and died a few hours later
A clean-up operation is under way after 4,500 litres of red diesel spilt into a brook in Leicestershire.
The diesel came from a storage tank on a farm near Kibworth Harcourt hit by vandals on Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Farmer Charles Stops said the tank replacement and loss of fuel will cost him at least £5,000.
The Environment Agency said the environmental damage caused by the spill will last "for several months."
"A kingfisher has died overnight and there has been substantial environmental damage," Environment Agency spokesman Paul Reeves said.
"There will be a red residual diesel contamination (in the ground and water supply) for several months," he added.
He said the clean-up and disposal of the diesel will cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Mr Stops said: "I couldn't quite believe that someone could do such a dreadful thing."
Leicestershire Police said an investigation is under way.
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