A WATER company has dismissed reports of leaked sewage flowing into the river Colne.

Complaints were sent to Halstead Town Council and the Gazette about waste leaking into the river near Bluebridge Industrial Estate, complete with toilet paper.

However, Anglian Water claims the system is working.

A spokesman said: “As soon as we were alerted to a substance in the Colne an engineer was dispatched to investigate. All our equipment was found to be in working order and the substance is not from our water recycling processes.

“We would always encourage customers to report any suspicious substances to us so we can investigate as soon as possible.”

The Environment Agency confirmed it too found no evidence of sewage leaking into the river.

An inspection of a small tributary where the sewage was seen was conducted by the agency. A spokesman said: "We found no evidence of pollution, environmental damage or adverse effect on wildlife.

"The watercourse is likely to be flowing slowly due to natural dry conditions and it is likely that any smells or unsightly ‘growth’ in the stream is from the breakdown of natural algae that has died off at the end of the summer.

"We do take concerns of people seriously but have been unable to find any adverse environmental impact."