Campaigners call for greater protection of river

Campaigners gathered in Ironbridge on Sunday to raise awareness of the importance of the River Severn and the plight to protect it from pollution.

One of those marching, resident Helen Harvey, told the BBC: "I live here and I've seen the decline in the river over the last 10 years - before it was teeming with wildlife there were plenty of plants growing along the river bank."

Severn Trent said it had invested £2 billion across the region on improvements in the last year and reduced storm overflow spills.

However, on World Rivers Day, campaigners said that there was more work to be done.

Anglers in the area said they had seen fish numbers diminish in the River Severn, with Ewen McGavin telling the BBC: "There are fish and you can find them but they're not in the numbers that they used to be.

"I suppose it's fishing maybe 15-20% of what it used to fish at.”

Andrea Bailey from the Telford and Wrekin Green Party said: "This is the longest riverway in the country. It's 220 miles. And it's very polluted.

"And we're told all the time that it's safe bathing water, but we can't swim in it, and they're dumping sewage in it, and they're making money hand over fist.

"We should be out here protesting against that."

Campaigner Joanne Kowalski said: "The river impacts everything. If you don't have healthy water, everything else dies around it.

"There has to come a point where we have to take a stand and say to the authorities, enough is enough.

"And we want to see a charter for the Severn like other rivers around the country that commits everybody who lives, works and is responsible for the river right up and down its full length to commit to protecting its future."

In a statement, Seven Trent said it recognised and shared the passion that people have for the River Seven.

It said that it had spent £140m on improving sewage treatments in the area and that it remains committed to working with partners so that the river is a place that everyone can be proud of.

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