WASHING machine waste has been identified as the cause of a “poisonous” leak into a river.

Anglian Water says it has found the cause of the leak into the River Crouch at Wickford Memorial Park.

The firm said the leak was caused when a domestic wastewater drain was mistakenly connected to a surface water drain that leaked washing machine waste into the river.

Campaigners are not convinced and say they can point out to engineers where a broken pipe is leaking raw sewage into the river at the Runwell Road park.

Members of the River Crouch Conservation Trust have already put up signs in the park warning children and pets not to go into the river after a black labrador was allegedly poisoned and almost died last month.

Trust spokesman Peter Steward, 52, of Seven Acres Wickford, said: “I’d be happy to show them where we saw the foul smelling sludge. It isn’t easy to find because it’s down the bank behind trees and nettles.

“I doubt they’ll agree though, as they don’t seem to like us because we’re the ones who monitor the river and they get in trouble when we find something wrong.”

Roy Hart, 63, chairman of the trust, has already sent taken samples of the suspected sewage for testing to try and prove their argument.

Anglian Water says it plans to carry out a number of further investigations.

A spokesman for the company said: “We are continuing to use CCTV to investigate the sewers around the River Crouch. So far only 40 metres remain un-surveyed and we are looking to find a way to check this section.

“So far a misconnection, where a domestic wastewater drain has been inappropriately connected to a surface water drain, has been found and we are working with the customer to sort this problem.”