Angling and swim ban after pollution kills fish

AN ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog is investigating the suspected pollution of a river by Scottish Water which has left a "significant" number of fish dead.

People have been advised not to swim or fish in the River Devon in Clackmannanshire until the results of the investigation are known.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) officials investigated a pollution complaint early on Monday afternoon and found Scottish Water workers attempting to clear an acid spillage.

It is thought the incident leading to the pollution happened on Sunday afternoon.

A Sepa spokesman said: "The source and cause of the pollution is being investigated and steps taken to try to minimise the impact on the local water environment."

WWF Scotland director Richard Dixon said: "Any spill of acid is serious but there has been a strong effort over the last decade to return stretches of the River Devon to a more natural state, so this major pollution incident is particularly unfortunate."