RIVER quality in the North-East is better than the average waterway in England, according to new figures.

The latest results, announced by the Environment Agency yesterday, show that 81.9 per cent of rivers in the region have a good or very good standard of biology, compared to the national average of 70.4 per cent

The survey also looked at the chemistry in rivers and found that 83.6 per cent of North-East rivers scored good or very good, compared to the England average of 61.5 per cent.

Only 37 miles of river was deemed bad or poor, compared to 1,057 miles of very good waterways for biology.

New quality standards to be set under an European Union (EU) directive means bodies looking after rivers, streams and lakes must aim to achieve and maintain good biological and chemical status by 2015.

Tricia Henton, of the Environment Agency, said: "In England, it is farming and urban run-off that is showing up as the most widespread pollution risks that we will need to tackle to make further progress and meet new EU standards."

The test results showed the River Ouse continues to be of very good biological quality and of good chemical quality above and through York city.

The River Foss, which joins the Ouse, was assessed as of fairly good quality two years ago but the chemical quality was deemed poor.

The situation has now improved and the quality of the river has been assessed as fair.

Environment officials found the Tees catchment, above the River Skerne confluence, is of a very good quality, while below it is of good chemical and very good biological quality.

The water quality of the Skerne, which receives sewage effluent from Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, varied depending on the area, but it was found to be good or fair in lower part of the catchment area below Newton Aycliffe.