FALLEN trees have caused pollution to build up and block part of the River Stour between Kidderminster and Stourport.

Hundreds of plastic containers have washed up against the fallen trees, near to the Falling Sands Lock, creating a floor-like surface on the water made up of bottles, twigs, mud, stagnant water and even footballs and tyres.

Fisherman Ben Gibbons says the pollution has completely blocked part of the river.

"It's an environmental disaster," he said. "Pollution is building up where the trees have fallen in the river. There are thousands of plastic containers and the water has gone stagnant around it.

"I'm a fisherman so I've grown up on the rivers and I've never seen anything like this.

"I spoke to someone at the Environment Agency who said they can't get through to the land owners to get the trees removed. There are at least three of them blocking the river.

"It just shows how many people are throwing their rubbish in our rivers.

"Fish are spawning at this time of year and this will be lethal to them."

The Environment Agency said it is aware of the issue, but said there are "constraints" in removing the fallen trees.

A spokesman said: "We have been made aware of trees blocking the River Stour and although there are constraints in removing this.

"We are looking into this and shall be working with the landowner to see how we can prevent pollution blocking the river.

"It is normally the landowner’s responsibility for removing litter from rivers and ensuring watercourses can flow freely.”