Sewage leak fines to be reinvested in clean-ups

Hornsea Mere is among the sites which will benefit from the cash

More than £1.5m worth of fines issued to Yorkshire Water for sewage leaks will be spent on clean-up projects across the region.

Sites across the county, including Dewsbury Country Park in West Yorkshire, Hornsea Mere in East Yorkshire and Pickhill Beck in North Yorkshire, will benefit from the cash, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

A total of £250,000 will also be invested in improving water quality in the River Wharfe.

Swaledale & Wensleydale Environmental Farmers - a co-operative of farmers and moorland managers dedicated to improving land around the Swale and Ure rivers - will also receive £220,000.

Defra said the projects would "tackle pollution and support long-term plans for nature restoration".

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: "I share people's anger at the damage caused by sewage pollution and want communities to once again feel they can take pride in their environment.

"Under our Plan for Change we're resetting the water industry – holding water companies to account and reinvesting in areas harmed by their rule-breaking."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.