Fears grow on pollution problems in Severn

A pollution problem on the River Severn at Bewdley, thought to be fuel, is more extensive than it was first thought, it emerged today.

The Environment Agency was forced to bring in floating booms to soak up the oily substance flowing into the river this week.

The agency expected to have soaked up all the pollution by now. But officials said the problem was now bigger than first thought as the oil appeared to be coming from underground. Tests have still not been able to trace the source or the type of oil that is leaking into a pool which is overflowing into one of the Severn's feeder streams.

The risk to wildlife is still unclear while the substance has not been identified, the Environment Agency has admitted.

The agency's contractors said they may start digging to remove contaminated soil from the banks to help reduce the impact of the pollution. It is believed that between 50 and 100 litres of the oil-type substance are involved in the alert.

Lyn Fraley, spokeswoman for the Environment Agency, said: "We can also confirm that specialist contractors were deployed to put more booms on the culvert. We are blocking the place before it gets to the river."