Environmental campaigners in the district today welcomed Government intervention in the fight to reduce sewage pollution in the River Aire.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told industry watchdogs that water companies must tackle sewage problems and spend more than £8 billion on improving and safeguarding the environment.

The announcement is part of a package of Government guidelines for water company investment for the years 2000 to 2005, which could see a 10 per cent drop in domestic water bills.

The pledge to push for "lower prices with environmental improvements" was described as a huge boost by WaterWatch campaigners.

They say the district's combined sewer overflows, installed in the 1950s to deal with heavy storms, are operating throughout the year, discharging raw sewage into the River Aire.

Penny Ward, chairman of WaterWatch and a member of the River Aire Conservation Society, said: "This raw sewage is flowing into the river and its connecting becks and streams without any treatment.

"This is a national problem but the River Aire is probably worse than most, with environmental tests showing serious bacterial problems.

"Customers have a right to water which is safe and clean. Companies like Yorkshire Water are making vast profits at the expense of the environment and this has to stop."

Yorkshire Water says it has invested £100 million in waste water treatment works and sewage improvements on the River Aire. A spokesman for the company said: "We welcome the Government announcement. In a recent consultation exercise, customers told us that environmental improvements were a priority and that they were prepared to see moderate price increases to pay for this."

The overflows act as a safety valve for household sewage and road surface drainage systems. They open in heavy rain, allowing excess water and raw sewage to enter the river.

They are only meant to open when the water flow is high enough to dilute the sewage. But WaterWatch says overflows in the Bradford district operate up to 90 times a year - even in dry weather.

Today's announcement of a five-year target for water companies to clean up their act follows praise from Environment Minister Michael Meacher for the work of local campaign group Eye on the Aire.

During a visit to the region yesterday he said the efforts of the group meant the River Aire was now at its cleanest for a century.

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