A FORMER pop star has slammed a water company for polluting the River Severn after he claimed Worcester's stretch is six times over the safety limit.

Feargal Sharkey, a singer from the 1970s, tested the River Severn's pollution levels next to the Severn Trent sewage works in Diglis last week.

It led the star to go to LBC to complain about Severn Trent, whose Diglis site he claims is responsible for 75 per cent of all the sewage being dumped in this section of the river. 

He also alleged the phosphate levels are six times over the limit - a claim Severn Trent has denied after arguing every river is different so there is no standard limit.

In response to Feargal's test, Severn Trent said one-off tests like this can be misleading and risk wrong conclusions, and it is investing more than another company in reducing its impact.

In a video taken at Worcester, Feargal said: "This, what is behind me is what's generically referred to as treated sewage. 

"I can assure you, there is nothing treated about any of it.

"Over the last year, 75 per cent of all of the sewage dumped into this section of the River Severn came from right here. Worcester Sewage Works."

His test found that the river failed the test for its Nitrate levels and phosphate, which was recorded at 1.86. He claimed the average is 0.3. 

"If you are a customer, one of those millions and millions of people that are customers of Severn Trent, over one-tenth of your water bill is actually going to help pay for the 6.9 billion pounds worth of debt which this company is in.

"And that in itself is also helping to pay for the 8.9 billion dividends they've paid out and, indeed, the quite extraordinary 27.7 million pounds worth of salary and bonus the chief executive had earned in the last ten years.

"It's an abject lesson. It pays to pollute."

A Severn Trent spokesperson said many factors contribute to river health, and accurate methodology is crucial to ensuring reliable results.  

“Severn Trent is investing more and progressing faster than any other water company, which means we’re reducing our impact quickly.

"Lasting change requires a collective effort, and we’re totally committed to play our part, working in partnership with river users and communities.

“Whilst we’re not where we want to be yet, we’re making real progress and an extra £1bn investment from our investors is helping us to deliver faster.  

"We’ve installed monitors at all our storm overflow sites, we analyse 300m pieces of data a year and we’re investing £450m this year alone in improvements.

“Looking ahead, by 2030, our storm overflow operations will not contribute to any river in our region not meeting good ecological status.

"This is ahead of government targets, and we’re leading the way in the UK.”