SOUTHERN Water has denied claims of a new oil spillage in the River Test.

But the water company has put in more protective booms as a precaution to catch any further waste, the Environment Agency says.

Reports of diesel in the lower part of the river on the outskirts of Southampton angered residents on social media.

Actor Jim Murray posted a video on Twitter calling out the spillage coming from Nursling industrial estate.

He said: "Over a year ago I interviewed @SouthernWater about this very issue - RAW DIESEL SPILLING into the Lower River Test. They told me they were ‘looking into it’.

"They then threatened litigation if I released the interview and today the oil still spills and kills."

The water service company says it has investigated the issue over the weekend and insists that social media posts on the issue are "incorrect".

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A spokesperson said: "We have not made any threat of litigation toward Mr Murray. We did work hard to help him understand how the drains at Nursling work.

"We are only anxious that nothing is published which might prejudice the Environment Agency investigation into the polluter."

Officers from the Environment Agency said they attended the site but were unable to find any evidence of the pollution.

The government department said it asked Southern Water to ensure the booms were able to catch any further spillages.

By Monday morning, the water company had put additional booms in place.

The company says that recent rainfall may have washed waste from the estate into the river's opening, but there has been no new oil spillage and it was not caused by Southern Water, it said.

A spokesperson said: "Due to the pollution incident from the estate last year, we have installed booms at the outfall on the Test and these are visited and checked every day.

"Recent rain may have washed debris in the estate drains down to the outfall but there has been no new spill and we are confident the river is protected."

The company added it has plans to completely clean out the drainage system, but needs permission from Network Rail as it is near the railway line.

The spokesperson added: "We are working with the Environment Agency and specialist contractors on a plan to clean the drainage system without pushing any residue into the river.

"This is challenging because heavy equipment cannot be placed at the outfall. Special permission is also needed from Network Rail to conduct operations under the railway line."

This comes after fuel and oil leaked from the estate in July last year.

The Echo reported that pollution entered the water at the Lower Test nature reserve, after heavy rainfall.

It caused "long-lasting damage" to wildlife, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust said.

The Environment Agency says it has directed Southern Water to report back any findings from its investigation into pollution entering the surface water outfall pipe.

Any reports of suspected pollution in rivers can be called into the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 807060.

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