Rivers watchdog admits pollution

Pollution stemmed from concrete waste flowing into the river

The UK's main environment watchdog is facing a hefty fine after admitting polluting a river for the first time in its 10-year history.

The Environment Agency (EA) contracted May Gurney, from Norwich, to put a flow monitoring station on the River Exe's main tributary, the Barle, in Somerset.

But during the work last September toxic building waste leaked into the river, killing about 300 fish.

May Gurney and the EA admitted the offence before Devon magistrates.

How this happened was a disgrace Ian Cook

The court in Cullompton heard that the EA classified the pollution as level one, the most serious type.

But by law it could not prosecute itself, so in a unique move angler Ian Cook got government permission to bring a private prosecution.

Art dealer Mr Cook, 56, who owns fishing rights on about 1 mile (1.6km) of the Exe near Exeter, about 20 miles (32km) downstream from the pollution site, found some of the dead fish in his waters.

Magistrates adjourned the case to Exeter Crown Court for sentencing on 10 May because they felt their maximum fine of £5,000 was insufficient.

Mr Cook said he waited for six months for the EA to act, but in that time they did not start their own prosecution against the contractors.

He said after the case: "Mistakes can happen. There a lot of good people at the Environment Agency, but in this particular incident I don't think they come out of it smelling of roses.

"How this happened was a disgrace."

Richard Banwell, mitigating for the EA, said: "We share Mr Cook's very strong feelings.

"This is a day of considerable sadness for the agency to find itself prosecuted for a pollution incident for the first time."

Stephen Brooker, for May Gurney, apologised and said procedures and working practices have been changed as a result of the incident.