The Environment Agency was called in after processed waste leaked into the Rivers Strine and Tern where ammonia levels increased.

Environment Agency officers oxygenated the water to safeguard wildlife.

Dr David Llewellyn, the university’s Vice-Chancellor today said:

“From yesterday the leak was held behind a bund that had been temporarily repaired following the initial incident.

“A fleet of tankers then worked to move the digestate from behind the bund and other areas where the spill had taken place.

“Harper Adams staff and local contractors have worked tirelessly for two days to remove the digestate, create dams and ditches and to block culverts to minimise the loss to local watercourses and the impact on the local environment. Severn Trent Water has assisted by removing the spillage to their nearby sewage treatment works to be processed.

“We continue to work closely with the Environment Agency, who have oxygenated the watercourse, and with other local services to assess the impact of the incident.

“We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are now in the process of conducting an investigation into what happened and why.”

A clean-up operation continues to take place.