A local MP has criticised the "atrocious" amount of sewage still being dumped into rivers around Warwick.

New data from the Environment Agency has shown there were 116 counted spills of untreated sewage from storm overflows in the Warwick and Leamington constituency in 2022.

This amounted to 486 hours of sewage being dumped into local rivers - the equivalent of more than 20 days of spillages.

While the total number was down from 204 the year before, Labour MP Matt Western said more still needs to be done to bring the numbers down.

Mr Western wrote to Severn Trent's chief executive in September 2022 to ask for answers on how the water company would be correcting the damage caused by the sewage dumps.

"The level of sewage we're seeing dumped in our waterways is terrible. We have beautiful countryside across the country and the fact that companies are being allowed to get away with polluting it is atrocious," he said.

"Ten years ago there were hardly any discharges into our rivers.

"The Conservatives keep backtracking on their commitment to clean up our waterways and fine the companies dumping sewage into them.

Matt Western says more needs to be done to reduce sewage discharges into local rivers (Image supplied)

"They've had 13 years to sort out this mess. It's clear they can't.

"Labour has a clear and costed plan to clean up our waterways and make the companies behind the pollution pay up."

Published on Friday (March 31), the new data shows a 19 per cent fall in spills nationally, which the Environment Agency says is mostly down to dry weather.

Environment Agency executive director John Leyland said: "The decrease in spills in 2022 is largely down to dry weather, not water company action.  

"We want to see quicker progress from water companies on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data. 

"We expect them to be fully across the detail of their networks and to maintain and invest in them to the high standard that the public expect and the regulator demands."

On Friday Severn Trent announced it has completed the installation of 100 per cent of monitor coverage across the region, as part of its "commitment to protect and improve in the health of the region's rivers".

James Jesic, director of operations at Severn Trent said: "Our hardworking teams continue to deliver strong results, with the goal of helping to make the region's rivers the healthiest they can be – both through redoubling our own efforts and investment and supporting others to also reduce their impact.  

"However, we're not complacent, and we know there's a lot more to do.

"Severn Trent operations currently account for 16 percent of the reasons why rivers aren't achieving good ecological status in the region, with 84 percent attributable to other sectors - we know that is still far too high - and we're focused on reducing our impact further and down to zero by 2030."  

Local sewage dumps included 50 into the River Avon south of Warwick, as well as 48 into the River Leam in Leamington Spa.