AS the river Wye's pollution rates worsen, a Herefordshire man has looked back at a time when wading out across it and boiling its water to drink on a camping trip were possible.

Adam Fisher, owner of fishing shop Angling Dreams, of Ross-on-Wye, has lived and worked on the river for more than 35 years.

He shared photos of what the river used to look like in 2005 and what it looks like now.

He says he used to wade out through beds of ranunculus weeds, with barbel kiting between the channels.

"We used to boil our stoves using river water. Now, I wouldn't use it to wash the car let alone swim in it," said Mr Fisher.

Hereford Times: Over the years the river has become more popular for canoeing and boat trips, said Mr Fisher. Over the years the river has become more popular for canoeing and boat trips, said Mr Fisher.

It was a time when there was hardly a canoe in sight.

"On a busy day now, you'd see 1,000 boats a day come through this spot," he said.

"The river is getting trashed."

Photos like this are evidence of what the river could be.

Mr Fisher said he can't take his daughter to his old special spots for peace and quiet anymore.

"The gentle sounds of running water and bird song have been replaced; the valley is now filled with shouting and screaming, scraping of boats across gravels, clanking of oars and the clatter of canoe trailers."

Hereford Times: The river Wye has multiple destinations were people canoe from and to.The river Wye has multiple destinations were people canoe from and to.

The sweet smells of the riverbank are a thing of the past, he said.

"The kingfisher was a flash of colour in the landscape of a million shades of green back then."

Now he is concerned over the boats and buoyancy aids that stream past.

"Something has to be done," Mr Fisher said.

"But when there's money involved there's no respect and thus communications about the future are as muddy as the river itself."

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