A COMMUNITY leader is calling for action to stop sewage being pumped into a river near to where children play.

The sewage is being discharged into the River Skell, in Ripon.

Stretches of river between Bondgate Green Bridge and the by-pass bridge are close to children's playgrounds.

Councillor Sid Hawke, deputy mayor of Ripon, said this was unacceptable and has called for the upgrading of the sewage outlets.

A spokesman for Yorkshire water said: "We work with the Environment Agency to prioritise combined sewage outlets that are unsatisfactory - these ones aren't unsatisfactory."

"We are more than happy to meet Councillor Hawke and talk through these concerns and see what we can do to look at putting notices up, and also explaining to him about the combined sewage outlets."