A TIDE of human waste has been flowing into the River Wharfe from an Otley sewage works for the past two years, anglers and environmental health bosses have claimed.

They say that disposable nappies and toilet waste have been found overflowing into the river from the Gallows Hill treatment works during wet weather since two storm overflow tanks were closed in autumn 1999.

Works operator Yorkshire Water has admitted that sewage has been leaking into the water, and has carried out some work but says sewage overflow is common practice at treatment plants.

And the Environment Agency says it needs to carry out further investigations on the impact of the pollution. It has so far found no evidence of harm to the environment.

Pool-in-Wharfedale resident, Leslie Magee, said anglers had been disgusted to see human excrement and disposable nappies flowing into the river from the storm overflow tanks.

Mr Magee, who is the conservation liaison officer of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, says he raised complaints with the Environment Agency but work carried out by the water company as a result did not stop the sewage.

He said: "My point is that for two years they've let thousands of cubic metres of sewage get into the river. The thing is that the whole area is in the middle of a nature reserve. It is a public right of way and people are walking through it."

A regular angler himself, he said the problem began when two of the treatment plant's five storm tanks were shut down in 1999.

As well as the possible health risk to those who live or spend time near the river, Mr Magee said anglers feared the effects of the sewage on the ecology of the river in particular on grayling, salmon and endangered freshwater crayfish.

There have also been worries about a drinking water pumping station operating downstream at Arthington.

He raised the matter with Leeds City Council's environmental health department, which has been looking into it.

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said the council was aware that sewage had been escaping from Gallows Hill, and onto the surrounding land for some time.

She said: "We are concerned about the health hazard which is being caused and have been in discussions with Yorkshire Water and the Environ-ment Agency asking them to take steps to alleviate the situation.

"YW has already carried out some improvement works but these do not appear to have been totally effective. They have now assured us that they will be carrying out additional improvements over the next few weeks in a further bid to tackle the problem.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water admitted that some sewage is getting into the river, but said it is working to reduce the overflow.

A spokesman said: "We are doing some work there at the moment. When there has been heavy rainfall the tanks reach capacity they spill into the River Wharfe.

"They do this because otherwise they would back up into the sewers and back up into people's houses. It's very, very dilute sewage. It's important to put out that at sewage works, use of these storm tanks is common practice."

He said that 'screens' in the storm tanks were supposed to stop toilet paper, condoms and other solid objects leaking into the river, but these had not been working properly.

The Environment Agency said it would like to improve the quality of discharge screening, and will continue to monitor the situation.

A spokesman said: "The Agency is in the process of reviewing the discharge consent for this outlet and is currently discussing possible improvements with Yorkshire Water.

"However, the consent cannot be modified without Yorkshire Water's consent until October 12, 2003."

He said there was 'no evidence of significant deterioratio'' in the chemical quality of the river.