A local monitoring group has been formed, acting as a watchdog for water companies and river pollution. 

The Loxely, Rivelin Valley and Upper Don River Wardens (LRVADRW) held their second meeting last night, in Walkley Cottage, in a bid to establish a consistent community effort to record these rivers’ health. 

The group is taking inspiration from efforts in Bradford, which saw Yorkshire Water fined £1.6m last year. 

John Blewit, 74, the group’s founder, said: “We need a good method of recording. We need local people to do it. We also need the academics, the people that know how to put things together.”

Walkley Councillor Tom Hunt added: “We’re proud of our rivers, we want clean rivers’ and that Yorkshire Water would be held to account thanks to the group.”