A DEVELOPER was ordered to pay more than £12,000 after sewage from one of its estates contaminated a tributary leading to the River Darwen.

Wainhomes Northern plc denied two charges of pollution but the firm was found guilty by Blackburn magistrates after a day-long trial.

The National Rivers Authority, which brought the case, said Wainhomes was responsible for a pumping site on the 87-home estate at Old Gates Drive, Blackburn.

However, on April 8 last year, nearby residents saw human sewage floating in the stream next to the pumping station and an investigation revealed that the pumps were not working. Inspectors also discovered pollution the following day. In all, 700 metres of watercourse were affected.

The court heard that instead of being pumped away, sewage was rising in a well and entering the stream through an overflow pipe.

However, Mr John Barrett, defending, argued that the pumps were not working properly because water from the stream had entered the well because of a blockage in a culvert maintained by the British Waterways Board.

He argued that this put a strain on the system, causing the pumps to overheat and switch off.

"There is nothing wrong with the pumping station as operated by my clients," he said.

He added that no fish had been killed in the incident and that there had been no permanent damage.

Wainhomes had also paid to clean up the spillage.

However, the magistrates fined Wainhomes £5,000 for each offence and ordered the firm to pay the prosecution costs of £2,253.

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