NEW figures today reveal Lancashire as the water pollution capital of the North West, with more than four times as many serious incidents than any other county in the region.

Figures released by the Environment Agency show there were 621 incidents of pollution in the county during 1997, more than in any other North West county.

And although the total number of incidents in Lancashire has dropped by 28 per cent since 1996, the number of serious incidents has risen sharply.

The agency was called to deal with 18 major incidents in the county, more than double the previous year's total.

And cases of pollution causing an environmental impact over a large area went up by 20 per cent to 180, four-and-a-half times as many as in any other county in the North West. Environment Agency regional environmental protection manager Jeremy Frost said a tough line would be taken with those who cause pollution.

He added: "We are committed to reducing water pollution incidents by providing advice to industry, farmers and individuals.

"The agency will be tough on those who don't heed the advice, and polluters will face a bill for recovery of costs as well as possible prosecution."

Last year an East Lancashire farmer was jailed for two months after causing pollution in a local stream, the first time a custodial sentence had been imposed under the Water Resources Act 1991.

More than 2,000 incidents were reported in the region during 1997, with a quarter caused by sewage, and a further quarter caused by leakages of fuels and oils.

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