Thames pollution worst on record

The full extent of the Thames pollution crisis is revealed today as government figures show oxygen levels in the river sank to their lowest on record in August.

Experts blame the massive amounts of raw sewage pumped into the river.

Levels of dissolved oxygen should remain at 40per cent for at least 80per cent of the time, according to the Environment Agency. This gives fish and other wildlife enough oxygen to live.

However, in August they dropped regularly to below five per cent, killing hundreds of thousands of fish.

Alison Shaw, a marine expert at the Zoological Society of London, said: "Fish could not move into oxygenated areas as there was so much sewage."

Environment Agency scientists say current levels in the Thames are about 50 per cent.

Dee Doocey, a Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, accused Thames Water and the Government of ignoring the disaster.

But Thames Water said it was waiting for the Government to respond to its plans for a new sewage tunnel.