GROUPS, individuals and businesses that use the River Trent for work and pleasure are today counting the cost of pollution to the water.

Among them is farmer Malcolm Pearce, who has a 500-strong cattle and dairy herd at his farm in Strongford, near Barlaston.

The 70-year-old said he was worried that one of his 12 month old calves may have been affected by the cyanide.

Mr Pearce said: "The calf became ill on Sunday and the vet gave it antibiotics. It had a swollen throat and was struggling to breathe.

"We had no idea about the cyanide at that stage. It is a little better now, but it's still worrying.

"All my animals had access to the river. No-one from the authorities has been in touch with me to tell me what to do.

"I've had to rely on the information in the media. I don't know how long I am meant to keep the animals away from the river for."

Severn Trent Water first noticed problems at the Strongford sewage treatment works on Sunday night.

Bacteria used to break down waste in the settling tanks were killed by the poison and partially-treated waste was released into the river.

The Environment Agency (EA) then tested the 30-mile stretch from Stoke-on-Trent to Yoxall.

It confirmed the presence of cyanide on Tuesday and has since removed thousands of dead fish from the water.

In recent years, an EA investment programme has seen the river restocked with barbel, chub, perch, pike and roach.

Thanks to the improved fish stocks, angling groups who formerly fished in canals started to use the river again.

And Peter Fieldhouse, chairman of Fenton and District Angling Society, said he was devastated by what had happened.

The 64-year-old said: "We only started fishing at Weston near Stone last year. Severn Trent and the EA have done so much work to clean up the river and now it is destroyed.

"It's not just the fish, it's the entire ecosystem and it will take years to recover.

"When the potteries and the pits were in full operation that river was permanently polluted, but finally it was clean again. I can't describe how I feel, it's just devastating."

The EA has been constantly testing the river since the contamination, as well as pumping in oxygen to dilute the poison.

Warnings have been issued to dog walkers, farmers, anglers and boaters to keep away.

And signs were put up around Stafford and Stone Canoe Club telling members of the public to avoid the riverside paths.

Contamination levels had diminished last night and those warnings were lifted, allowing recreational users to return.

But Ruth Holdway, a community sport coach at the canoe club, said she had been contacted by concerned parents of young members.

She added: "We come across pollution in the river frequently, but we've never had anything like this before.

"We always alert the Environment Agency and our members immediately called when they saw dead fish floating down the river on Sunday.

"We use the river every day and we were not able to on Wednesday night. Luckily, we have the canal right beside the river so we moved there, but people voted with their feet.

"The numbers were down at both our junior classes and I had a lot of e-mails from worried parents who assumed the classes were cancelled."

The Trent starts in Knypersley and goes through Norton and Milton to Joiner's Square.

Pathways and cycle routes run along its banks as it goes through the city and alongside the A500 towards Trentham.

It used to feed the lake at the Trentham estate, but because of pollution in the Victorian era its course was diverted.

Michael Walker, gardens and estate manager at Trentham Gardens said: "It's ironic that something which was needed so long ago has saved us again.

"But the river is a great resource for wildlife but so far we have not seen any evidence of the cyanide.

"There are still plenty of waterfowl on the river but we are concerned about the cyanide getting into the food chain.

"Nature is at the heart of Trentham and I hope this has been a near miss."

"But we will have to wait to find out the long term impact."