A FARNWORTH student fears local wildlife is at risk from sewage leaking into the River Croal at a Bolton country park.

Rachel Murray, aged 16, says she was appalled to see the effluent spewing from a sewage pipe next to the bridge over the river at Crompton Lodges on Monday.

"This is the third time it has happened in a few weeks. The banking has been washed away and the river where the sewage entered was a really disgusting colour," said Rachel.

She added that the foul odour coming from the river was so bad that she could smell it in her home in Cemetery Road hundreds of yards away.

"It is supposed to be like a nature reserve round there. There won't be any wild life left," she said.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which is responsible for investigating river pollution said that the incident this week was a result of a sewer pipe blocking and overflowing.

But workers from Bolton Council's main drainage department have now dealt with the blockage and cleared the mess.

The spokesman added that they will be investigating the incidents.

"We will be looking into it to see if it is a recurring problem and something can be done about it," he said.

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