THE low level of the River Severn in Worcester has revealed large amounts of unsightly waste in the water - but no one is accepting responsibility to clear it up.

Among the rubbish spotted in the river near to Worcester Bridge - from North Parade down to South Quay - were about a dozen traffic cones, concrete bollards, rope, a bike, plastic and glass bottles, food wrappers, bricks and slabs, and even a signpost with a concrete base.

The responsibility of clearing waste from the river falls on the riparian landowner.

This is the person or organisation that owns land or property next to the river. Their role involves maintaining the bed and banks up to the middle of the watercourse including clearing any debris, like litter, even if it did not originate from their land.

In this case the stretch of river where this waste can be seen runs along a road which is owned and maintained by Worcestershire County Council - making it the landowner.

However, Worcester City Council

cleans up waste from the highways on its behalf. But Martin Gillies, the city council's environmental health manager, said while the council will clean up litter from the public highways it will not do so from the river.

"If it's contamination of the river then it's the Environment Agency which is responsible."

But an Environment Agency spokeswoman said: "If there is waste causing pollution or a flood risk then it is our responsibility to clean it.

"But if it's general litter in the river with no impact on pollution and flooding them it's the riparian landowner."

Trevor May, who runs the Stourport Steamer Company, which takes around 100 tourists down the Severn through Worcester each week, said the mess was off-putting for visitors. He said: "If tourists do spot waste it may put them off coming again."

Andrea Watkins, the city council's tourism manager, said the River Severn is an important part of drawing visitors to Worcester.

She said: "Traditionally people come from the West Midlands down to Worcester because of the river. People enjoy walking along the river banks and the fountain area on South Quay is a very nice area for people to sit."

British Waterways, which many people would regard as responsible for the river upkeep, is only charged with dealing with floating debris like branches and not litter.

The river is currently 15 per cent below the normal summer time average. It is currently 10.5m above sea level.