'79 days' sewage pumped into River Thames'

CAMPAIGNERS have blasted Thames Water for reportedly dumping human waste into the River Thames for 1,914 hours so far this year equivalent to 79 days.

- Steph Spyro

Data from 40 sites between Kingston, in South West London, and the estuary suggests storm overflows managed by Thames Water are discharging untreated raw sewage into the river system, experts said.

James Wallace, head of campaign group River Action, said: "Nearly all our rivers have been polluted by water companies which, since privatisation over 30 years ago when all their debt was wiped, have adopted vulture-like business models.

"This has led to money from honest water bill payers ending up lining the pockets of investors with multi-billion pound dividends and interest from debt.