Chris Packham gives advice on Middleton Stop Drain, King's Lynn

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has given advice about the concerns a group of residents have had over the Middleton Stop Drain.

A group of residents have brought attention to potential pollution in the waterway based at The Chase in Lynn.

Having contacted the Environmental Agency a number of times, concerned nature lover Barry Tomlin still feels he has had insufficient answers.

Pictures of dead fish and a black gloopy waterway have been taken over the years and a deterioration of the area has been noted by locals living close by.

Asking for advice about what the residents could do from television presenter Chris Packham, he said: "The Environmental Agency should be helping more but they have had cuts cuts cuts and are under resourced.

"We hope they would do more but sometimes we have got to do it ourselves.

"The residents could do a water quality test and send it off to a lab for a reasonably small cost, maybe set up a crowd fund to cover the amount, it's a matter of hundreds.

"I did one recently myself which was, like this, about water quality, and once they have a proof of pollution they can start looking for the source of it and maybe ask for help from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also contact Natural England."

The Environmental Agency have since responded to an email from the Lynn News and have said: "Officers believe the discolouration of the Middleton Stop Drain is due to sediment entering the watercourse.

"We have identified potential sources and are investigating these.

"As part of our investigation, we have installed a 24/7 monitoring device which will help us to narrow down the likely sources and enable us to take the appropriate action in line with our enforcement and sanctions policy."

A spokesperson from Anglian Water said: "The team went out last night to look.

"However, we don’t have any assets in that area that could discharge into the river.

Alexandra Kemp, councillor for Clenchwarton and King's Lynn South has herself written to the Environment Agency and the Water Management Alliance and she said: "The area at Middleton Stop Drain is an asset and an important part of Lynn's flood defences.

"This green space is important and we must ask what is the source of this pollution and what is being done to stop it."