PEOPLE are being told not to swim in a river as raw sewage has polluted the water.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have notified Torfaen County Borough Council of an ongoing pollution issue in a water course entering the Afon Lwyd, near the Forgeside in Blaenavon.

The council said that NRW have attended the watercourse and advised that the water quality was typical of that impacted by sewage pollution with fungus growth evident and a smell of sewage.

Although they are now waiting for analysis of water samples, the NRW have a high level of certainty this is raw sewage and the material is of a concentration that could make its way down the Afon Lwyd.

Local residents say that children regularly swim in the Afon Lwyd immediately downstream of where the polluted water course enters.

Given the recent good weather and good long range forecast the council are advising that people stay out of the river.

They said: "NRW will continue investigating the matter to establish the source of the pollution and taking appropriate enforcement action should a polluter be identified."