Church holy water 'from drains'

Mr Kemp had hoped the water could be bottled

Hundreds of gallons of water which rose from the cellar of a Cambridgeshire church are believed to have come from an old drain.

Water was coming up from underneath the Trinity Church in March at a rate of about 10 gallons (45 litres) an hour.

Reg Kemp, property steward of Trinity Church, had drunk the "holy" water and said he hoped it could be bottled and become an attraction.

But Anglian Water said tests proved it was "environmentally contaminated".

The spokesman said: "It could cause an upset stomach, whatever the source. Even if it's a natural spring or rainwater it has come through the soil, so it's no longer sterile. If it has come through soil, we presume there is a graveyard nearby."

'Dead animals'

The water could also be infected by E-coli run-off from the roads, he said.

An Anglian Water spokeswoman continued: "The water could have pesticides if it has run-off from the roadways and land drainage. There could be dead animals, droppings, diesel and grit in it."

Tests carried out by the Environment Agency found there was no chloride in the water, meaning it is not mains water, as well as no ammonia - which indicates that it is not typical sewage.

"The only feasible explanation is that the water came from a drain near to the church," the spokeswoman said.

"It's still a mystery how it began rising through the church though - it was possibly the earthquake."

'Tasteless and odourless'

Mr Kemp said: "We're still waiting to receive from Fenland District Council a copy of the analysis that was carried out on these samples.

"All we've had so far are interim results showing high levels of what is likely to be sewage but we're still awaiting confirmation.

"A drain, known as the hythe, used to take away surface water and sewage from the town and it has been suggested this drain runs under the church - but it doesn't - it runs across the front of the building but quite away from the cellar where the water is coming."

Mr Kemp said the water, which he described as "tasteless and odourless", had reduced in volume in recent weeks.

"Only a few people have tasted the water and they've had no side effects - I'm as fit as a fiddle."