CLEAN river campaigners were shocked to see firefighters taking part in open water rescue training in the River Wharfe on Monday despite a pollution incident.

A spokesperson for Ilkley Clean River Campaign said: "For several days sewage has been clearly pouring into the river from the Middleton Woods Combined Sewer Overflow at Ilkley at the Cromwheel by the swing bridge. The incident has been reported to the Environment Agency and to Yorkshire Water but so far there has been no response. The fire and rescue service were having to train in severely polluted water putting their health at risk. Pollution incidents outside heavy rainfall should be reported by Yorkshire Water to the regulators. As yet everyone is silent about the cause or what is being done to stop the pollution."

Ilkley Gazette: Firefighters training in the River Wharfe in IlkleyFirefighters training in the River Wharfe in Ilkley (Image: submitted)

Karen Shackleton from Ilkley Clean River Group added: "It was shocking to see our local fire services training in water heavily polluted by untreated sewage when we have reported the incident to the Environment Agency. This pollution needs fixing."