Canoeists laid low by Thames sewage flood

First a million tonnes of raw sewage were pumped into the Thames amid some of the heaviest storms London has seen.

The pollution created killed hundreds of thousands of fish - but now the effects are being felt by humans too.

Human waste from sewage ejected into the river has spread bugs that have left canoeists hospitalised and rowing clubs decimated.

Health experts today warned people to avoid the worst affected areas, saying that dozens of harmful diseases can be caught from the water.

Professor Ray Playford of Imperial College, an expert in gastric illness, said: "Human waste carries a host of bacteria and viruses. Symptoms can range from an upset stomach to a full E.coli outbreak, which can be very nasty.

"I would advise people to stay away from the worst areas. If you can see waste matter then it's probably a good idea to get out of there."

He claimed conditions in the river were similar to those in Third World countries.

The pollution was pumped into the Thames after London's sewers were swamped by storms, threatening to inundate streets with waste matter.

Canoeists have noticed a huge change in the river's condition since the first outflow of 600,000 tonnes on 3 August. Many have been hit by gastric flu and taken to hospital.

Sean Martin, commodore of Richmond Canoe Club, said: "In some of our advanced groups, who spend a lot of time on the river, half of the 20 athletes have gone sick.

"We only realised on Friday what was happening. People emailed saying they were ill, and we started to think we might have a big problem."

He added: "The problem is that when we paddle in groups, a lot of spray is created. We think this is how people-are getting sick, and people-do fall in." Rupert Elkington-Cole, a member of the Richmond club, said: "We noticed a real change in the river after the first sewage spill. It's just not right down there. I use the river on a daily basis, and in the last few days have been very ill. I've had a severe stomach bug and have been extremely weak. I don't doubt that this bug came from the water. Several of the people I train with have been hospitalised with gastro-enteritis, and it has become a very serious situation."

Meanwhile, the storms which have caused the Thames to be pumped with raw sewage are set to continue. Forecasters predict that some parts of the country could get a third of their normal monthly rainfall in just a few hours today, prompting fears of yet more flooding.