Anglian Water has agreed to pay £50,000 to an environmental charity after a manhole overflowed with black sludge and grey liquid into a watercourse in Bedfordshire due to a blocked sewer.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove launched a wide-ranging attack on the water companies yesterday warning them they would need to raise their game on financing structures and operational performance, particularly leakage and pollution, or "face the consequences".

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee is holding its first evidence session in its nitrates inquiry tomorrow when the Committee will hear rom academics and Environment groups.

The UK government's ban on microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products has come into force – a landmark step in the introduction of one of the world’s toughest bans on the harmful pieces of plastic.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has launched a new inquiry into nitrates pollution in the UK.

Sheffield firm Firth Rixson Metals Ltd has been ordered to pay a fine of £80,000 after pleading guilty to polluting a watercourse in Glossop.

In a case brought by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water has pleaded guilty to charges relating to a water pollution incident in Doncaster which led to the deaths of several hundred fish.

A husband and wife farming partnership at  Rosehill Farm, Dymock,have each been fined £5,500 and each ordered to pay £25,798 in costs along with a victim surcharge of £170.

The Environment Agency has flagged up what it describes as a “worrying increase” in the number of pollution incidents reported to it in West Yorkshire that on investigation are attributable to the construction sector. 

A new report published today by WWF-UK says 40% of rivers in England and Wales are polluted by sewage and is calling for urgent action by the Government and water industry regulator Ofwat.