LAPFORD Mill has been closed to visitors temporarily after a burst sewage pipe leaked effluent at the venue.

Owner Alex Gater said he found the pipe had burst on Saturday, March 1 and reported it to South West Water.

The water company repaired the leak and, according to Mr Gater, said it would send a tanker to clear up the waste.

But it later reportedly told him it would not be doing so on the advice of the Environment Agency, as no sewage or related debris had been found in the leat, the watercourse that supplies the mill with water.

Mr Gater disputed this and shut the business to visitors and posted a video showing apparent effluent in the leat and an explanation of the situation to social media.

The Environment Agency has since taken samples of the water at Lapford Mill and has pledged to “take action” if there is “evidence of any environmental impact”.

A spokesperson for South West Water said: “A recent burst sewer main at Lapford Mill, Crediton, has unfortunately flowed onto a customer’s fields for which we are sorry.

“We took immediate action to stop the flow, thoroughly sampled and cleaned up the area as well as placing hay bales to prevent any further run off.

“We take these incidents extremely seriously, notifying the Environment Agency as soon as this incident was identified, and we continue to work with them.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “Environment Agency officers have investigated complaints about a repaired South West Water rising sewer main.

“Samples have been sent to our laboratory for analysis.

“We take pollution very seriously and if there is evidence of any environmental impact we will take action.”

Mr Gater has warned people to keep away from the river through the village, as he believes sewage has reached the Lapford Mill culvert which leads into it.