A North-East river has recorded the highest number of salmon in England and Wales following a vast improvement in its cleanliness.

According to figures released by the Environment Agency yesterday, anglers declared catching 2,513 salmon in the River Tyne last year - the highest number for an English or Welsh river and the Tyne's biggest catch since 1927.

The record amount represented a four per cent increase since 2000 and a 32 per cent increase compared to the river's five year average.

While the data represents only declared catches, and the relationship between catch and stock size is not always direct, the Environment Agency said the figures provided a good indication of trends in fish stock.

It put the River Tyne's success in attracting salmon back down to vast improvements in its sewage treatment and the cleaning up of industrial effluent.

In another boost for rivers yesterday, the Environment Agency and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) released figures showing that the standard of water quality in UK rivers - which have improved markedly since 1990 - is continuing to improve.

The Environment Agency found that urban rivers have started to catch up with their cleaner rural counterparts, with 95 per cent in England and Wales described as being of good or fair chemical quality in 2001.

Defra's River Quality Headline Indicator for sustainable development shows that chemical river quality in the UK has improved substantially since 1990.

Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency, said: "The improvements to urban rivers is good news.

"With 80 to 90 per cent of people in the UK living in urban areas, it is essential to create thriving, accessible rivers.

"By placing the environment at the heart of urban regeneration, cities can reap economic as well as social benefits."

In addition to the River Tyne findings, there have been marked improvements in the River Skerne, whose stretch through Darlington is now considered "fairly good"; the River Wansbeck in Northumberland, and the River Ouse in North Yorkshire.