What is happening to the River Thet in Thetford, Norfolk?

The River Thet in Thetford, Norfolk has experienced a second incident of thick white foam pollution, which has devastated the local wildlife, killing fish and driving away birds.

How is the Thetford River Group responding to the pollution on the River Thet?

The Thetford River Group, a river preservation group, is calling for legal action against those responsible for the pollution, stating that they need such incidents to stop as the water is crucial to the community.

What type of ecosystem is the River Thet part of?

The River Thet is a chalk stream, which are globally rare ecosystems, with almost a third of the world's chalk streams found in the East of England.

Home / Environment / Recurring River Pollution Sparks Calls for Legal Action

Recurring River Pollution Sparks Calls for Legal Action

21 Oct, 2025

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Summary

River preservation group demands legal action against polluters
Thick white foam covers River Thet, killing fish and driving away birds
Chalk stream ecosystem at risk of long-term damage

Recurring River Pollution Sparks Calls for Legal Action

On October 21, 2025, a river preservation group in Thetford, Norfolk is sounding the alarm over a second incident of thick white foam pollution on the River Thet. The Thetford River Group, which monitors the waterway, says the latest contamination event is "devastating for the community and the wildlife as well."

The group's spokesperson, Roseanne Gough, reports that dead fish could be seen in the river, and birds that normally inhabit the area have disappeared since the pollution occurred. Gough emphasizes the urgent need for legal action, stating, "Really what we just want to see this time is some sort of legal action, because we just need things like this to stop, the water is so crucial to all of us."

Experts warn that the long-term impact of such pollution events could be severe. Professor Ben Garrod, an evolutionary biologist at the University of East Anglia, explains that the effects can ripple through the entire ecosystem, potentially leading to fewer insects and plants in the future. Leuan Evans of Thetford Town Council also expresses anger over the second incident, noting that chemical pollutants can have lasting impacts on the region's biodiversity.