Diggers used to illegally rip trees from banks of River Lugg

The court was shown photographs taken before and after the damage, which Mr Price admitted he did to the River Lugg

A farmer hired diggers and bulldozers to illegally rip up trees and vegetation from the banks of one of the UK's best salmon rivers, a court heard.

John Price has admitted seven charges of damaging the River Lugg in Herefordshire, including failing to stop pollution entering the waterway.

Price also re-profiled river banks.

The first day of a three-day sentencing hearing at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court was told the Lugg was home to a number of endangered species.

In the wake of the damage, charges against the farmer were brought by the Environment Agency and Natural England.

He hired diggers and bulldozers, removed gravel and silt from the Lugg and carried out work at the site for more than 200 hours, including building a drainage channel into the river.

The farmer hired diggers and bulldozers to carry out the work

Price, of Day House Farm, Kingsland, who owns land either side of the Lugg, had a "habit of driving vehicles through the river at all times of the year", the court was told.

In 2020, he was issued with a stop notice by Natural England. He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with that notice and carrying out similar work the following year.

Prosecutor Bernard Thorogood told the court Price had carried out flood alleviation work on land he was renting in Marden in 2018.

He was warned not to do it again and ordered to repair the damage.

In 2007, he was renting land in Stretford, six miles from his farm, for growing potatoes.

He built a dam in Stretford Brook to create a pool which he used to irrigate the crop. Environment Agency officers found the brook had dried up for 1.5km (1 mile) below the dam. He pleaded guilty to two charges and received a fine.

The court heard the River Lugg was one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supports many rare water beetle and crane fly species

Price had objected to the River Lugg and banks next to his farm being made a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) in February 1995, the court was told.

The defence said the Lugg is home to six protected and endangered species: common otter, Atlantic salmon, white clawed crayfish, brook lamprey, shad and bullhead.

It was also described as one of the best rivers in the UK for salmon and supports many rare water beetle and crane fly species.

The hearing continues.