Devon river pollution sparks 'do not swim' warning

People have been told to avoid swimming in parts of a Devon river after reports of pollution, environment officials say.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it received reports of pollution in the River Dart in Buckfastleigh at about 17:00 BST on Tuesday.

The EA said soil from a field had got into the river after heavy rainfall in the area and advice had been issued to not swim in five locations on the river.

The pollution comes just over a week after four areas of the Dart were designated as bathing water sites by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

According to the EA website, warnings have been issued to not swim at Steamer Quay in Totnes, Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham, Warfleet Creek near Dartmouth, and Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove.

People walking along the river noticed the water had turned brown on Tuesday.

Wild swimming guide author Sophie Pierce tweeted pictures from Austin's Bridge in Buckfastleigh showing the brown water.

She said: "The Dart has turned a worrying colour at Austin’s Bridge Buckfastleigh. Have reported to Environment Agency South West.

"Checked upstream at Dart Bridge and it was clear there so there is a short stretch of river to check for the source of the pollution."

Ms Pierce said she had returned to the same site on Wednesday and the water was running clear.

The EA said: "Our officers attended and established that heavy showers have caused soil loss from an agricultural field.

"We have issued advice against bathing at five bathing waters."

On 13 May, four locations along the Dart had been given bathing water site status by the government.

The areas given the status were Steamer Quay in Totnes, the Ham in Dittisham, Stoke Gabriel's creek and Warfleet Creek near Dartmouth.

The government said being awarded the status means EA officials had to regularly test the water for pollution during bathing season, which runs from 15 May until 30 September.

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