SEWAGE has seeped into streams in Witney following heavy rainfall, prompting safety warnings for humans and dogs.

Witney Town Council has confirmed that there is sewage and 'fungus' in the Colwell Brook and Emma's Dyke, discharged from nearby sewage treatment works.

It advised dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead, and for humans not to enter the water.

In a post on its Facebook page on Christmas Eve, the council said it had received updated information from the Environment Agency about an issue reported in November.

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It said: "On Monday, [EA] officers attended following reports over the weekend of sewage discharges to the Colwell Brook from the sewage works.

"They have confirmed that the sewage works is discharging following the recent heavy rain.

"The impact they have found has been similar to that reported in November. There is sewage fungus in the Colwell Brook and Emma’s Dyke.

"Therefore the notices advising that humans and their pets stay out of the water still stand and will do so until further notice."

The sewage has been treated, the council said, but it said swimming and 'food gathering' in the area is not recommended.

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The post added: "We request that you do not allow dogs that have entered the brook or dyke to then swim in the lake."

Last month, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) claimed that Thames Water had allowed untreated sewage to be discharged into the River Windrush.

A campaigner told us at the time: "There is sewage fungus growing in Emma's Dyke and Colwell Brook and people are letting their dogs swim in it."

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A spokesperson for Thames Water said in response to that story: "The volume of sustained heavy rainfall recently meant that in order to prevent flooding to people’s homes, and once all our storage capacity at the works was filled, some wastewater was allowed to overflow into the system.

"Of course this is undesirable, but we only do it when there is literally no alternative.

"It is the way the system is designed to operate and is permitted by the Environment Agency under these circumstances."

Sharing the town council's post, WASP claimed the sewage in the streams was untreated.

It said the situation was 'shameful'.