AN MP has won Government backing for a campaign to reduce pollution in the River Wye.

During questions in the Commons last week, south Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman received an assurance from Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab that the Government would do all in its power to help improve the state of the Wye.

Mr Norman wrote to heads of the Environment Agency, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales in June saying their response to the problem was "seriously inadequate".

Campaigners have highlighted how phosphates from farm sewage, large-scale chicken production and other sources have turned the river brown by producing algal blooms that kill freshwater eco-systems.

Mr Norman asked the deputy PM: "The House will know that the River Wye is one of the most beautiful rivers in our country and also a priceless national asset, yet it is being threatened by phosphate pollution.

"Will my right honourable friend press colleagues in the Government and in No 10 to work with us to push the agencies and other interested bodies to a long-term integrated plan to clean up the River Wye?"

Mr Raab answered: "Of course, the Government understand, and my right honourable friend champions eloquently, the importance of the River Wye.

"We will do everything we can to support him with preserving it for future generations."

Mr Norman added: "Thank you for escalating this to the highest levels and shining a light on this travesty.

"A plan of action and investment is required to now make it happen."

The MP, who set up the Wye Phosphates Working Group last year in a bid to pull together an integrated plan, took environmental agencies to task in June for "failing to get a grip" on the "pressing issue" of Wye pollution.

In a letter to agency chiefs, he said there was a lack of public leadership over the matter.

"It is not acceptable for your organisations, as the three public bodies charged by law with preservation of the environment and our natural resources across England and Wales, not to take a leadership role and to abdicate responsibility for this very serious issue," he said.

"You are responsible - and if you are not willing to take responsibility then that responsibility should be required of you.

"Yes, it may involve overlapping responsibilities and require some mutual coordination, but these are issues for you to solve."

Earlier this year, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust senior conservation officer Andrew Nixon said they were "extremely concerned" about the current state of the river.

Campaigners have highlighted the problem over the summer with a ’Walking With the Wye’ source to sea pilgrimage, and ’Death of the Wye’ protests, including a funeral procession with a floating coffin.