A FOAMY substance floating on the surface of the river Severn in Worcester is a natural phenomenon, an environment expert has stated.

Concerned residents contacted your Worcester News to ask what the substance which was flowing on top of the water was.

Some suggested it could be detergent dumped in the river which had bubbled up.

However, the Environment Agency's Dave Throup has said it is nothing untoward.

He said: "This is caused by organic matter.

"When we get quite heavy rain at the top of the catchment in Wales it washes out the peat and other things from the water.

"As it runs down the river it starts to attract other bodies and picks up flotsam and jetsam and it bubbles up."