THE River Stour in Kiddermin-ster has cleaned up its act to be hailed a success.

The Environment Agency's River Quality Survey said the Stour had benefited from a series of anti-pollution initiatives over the last decade.

It has cleared up to such an extent there have even been sightings of otters. The River Stour which has been praised for its cleaner state.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher highlighted the clean-up efforts on the Stour at the announcement of the indicators.

He said: "Surveys undertaken this year reveal otters have returned to the river. That is a very clear sign of water quality."

The Environment Agency claims the river is probably cleaner than at any time since before the Industrial Revolution.

A spokesman said: "The Stour was one of the most polluted rivers in the upper Severn area. However, it is one of the success stories of this survey.

"It has improved significantly over the last decade to such an extent that there have been reports of otters in the lower reaches."

For more than a century the river was affected by waste from the carpet manufacturing trade, including dye and grease but these have been successfully resolved.

However, it continued to suffer from toxicity caused by the use of pesticides for mothproofing.

Over the last 10 years the level of permethrin, the main chemical used in the mothproofing process, has fallen by 93 per cent.

Further investment by Severn Trent Water led to falls in ammonia concentrations by between 60 and 90 per cent.

Other rivers in the Midlands were being blighted by tipping, rubbish, sanitary products, shopping trolleys and dog mess, the survey found.

Across the region 57 sites were graded on their appearance according to the levels of rubbish, sewage-derived waste and oil, scum and foam on the banks and river.

Half were deemed to be of poor or bad quality.