Red Stain on Road
© Leek Post and Times, UKThe red stain on the A523 Ashbourne Road.
The presence of iron from a water seepage could be the reason for a road turning red in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Leek businessman Darron Fleming spotted that an area of the A523 Ashbourne Road entering Leek has appeared to be 'bleeding' after red colour began to blanket the highway.

Mr Fleming, who runs EcigSwag in Sheepmarket, Leek said: "So what's going on in this busy corner of Leek? Is this some kind of planetary stigmata?

"I travel this way daily and first noticed this strange phenomenon more than four weeks ago.

"Initially I thought that a can of red paint had fallen onto the road and stained it, but now I realise that this red blood coloured liquid is oozing from the road continually. It's like the road is bleeding. Strange."

The Post & Times has contacted Staffordshire County Highway Department about the red colour.

Staffordshire County Councillor Simon Tagg, Cabinet Support Member for Transport and Connected County said: "Looking at the photograph, highways officers believe the red deposit looks to be more like discolouration due to the presence of iron from within an area of water seepage on the road.

"Our highways officers will monitor the situation to see if further investigation is required."