WE ARE delighted that detritus from last month's floods looks likely to be cleared from the river Severn in Worcester. It is just a shame it has taken so long.

Two islands of debris have been stuck in the river, one beneath the railway bridge and the other across one of the New Road bridge arches.

The eyesores have been there for weeks.

At the weekend the mounds of mess caused the route of the annual Head of the River rowing regatta to be altered, shortening the course by more than a mile.

It was not Worcester's finest hour and gave the hundreds of visitors to the event a pretty poor image of the city.

Quite why this problem has been allowed to fester for so long is beyond us.

The responsibility for removing such debris appears to be a grey area. The Environment Agency has the power to clear it but will only do so if it causes a flood risk.

No other authority appears willing to deal with it.

Now the Agency, following questions posed by your Worcester News, says it is "quite likely" the debris will be cleared.

That is good news but it has come too late to save Worcester's reputation as a great rowing venue.

We hoped that the city and county councils would have put pressure on the Environment Agency well in advance of the regatta.

The debris may not be a danger but its continued presence is damaging to Worcester's image.