Thames Water hit with record £20m fine for huge sewage leaks

Massive fine reflects change in sentencing as previously low penalties failed to deter water firms from polluting England's rivers and beaches

Thames Water has been hit with a record fine of 20.3m after huge leaks of untreated sewage into the Thames and its tributaries and on to land, including the popular Thames path. The prolonged leaks led to serious impacts on residents, farmers, and wildlife, killing birds and fish.

The fine imposed on Wednesday was for numerous offences in 2013 and 2014 at sewage treatment works at Aylesbury, Didcot, Henley and Little Marlow, and a large sewage pumping station at Littlemore.