YORKSHIRE Water has been fined £3,500 after pollution killed thousands of fish in East Yorkshire.

The company admitted causing untreated sewage to enter Pocklington Beck from a combined sewer overflow at West Green in Pocklington on June 2, 2003. Two thousand fish were killed and it cost more than £10,000 to restock the water course in November.

The Environment Agency was called in after a member of the public spotted a large number of dead fish floating in the beck and noticed a strong smell of sewage. Dead fish were also seen in Pocklington Canal, a well stocked coarse fishery and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, Beverley Magistrates heard.

Officers from the agency used aerators to increase oxygen levels in the water in an attempt to save as many fish as possible. Aerators were also deployed by Yorkshire Water. As well as the £3,500 fine, Yorkshire Water was ordered to pay £615 in costs to the Environment Agency.

Leonore Frear, agency environment officer, said: "This was a particularly severe pollution incident which led to the unnecessary death of thousands of fish. We hope this sends out a clear message to other companies that unnecessary pollution incidents can have severe consequences and will not be tolerated by the agency.

"However, we are glad to see Yorkshire Water has addressed problems with the West Green sewer overflow into Pocklington Beck and has now fitted a telemetry system to alert them to any future discharges."

Yorkshire Water said the incident occurred when the sewer overflow became blocked by sanitary products, condoms and nappies.

Yorkshire Water's waste water director Graham Dixon said: "This was a very unfortunate incident brought about by a partial blockage of the system. And, unfortunately, the blockage was down to items we ask customers not to flush down the toilet as it can - and does - lead to this very type of incident occurring.

"We worked very closely with the EA on this incident and its investigating officer, Leonore Frear, confirmed we responded very quickly to the situation. At the time it was feared it could take years for the beck to recover, however, just five months later the Environment Agency had given it a clean bill of health."

Updated: 10:46 Thursday, March 04, 2004