The legal firm taking action against what it claims is a major polluter of the river Wye says “around 1,500” local people have joined its civil claim.

Leigh Day has advertised extensively in Herefordshire and beyond, though print and online media and targeted mailshots, asking people to join its legal move against Avara Foods.

It claims the company and its partners, which over the past decade have set up extensive poultry rearing and processing capacity in the Wye catchment in and around Herefordshire, are partly responsible for the declining state of the river due to manure entering it from fields, where it is used as fertiliser.

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It is demanding that Avara make good the damage, and compensate those affected.

“We are representing around 1,500 people and have had 2,000 people enquiring,” according to Oliver Holland, partner with the law firm who is leading on the case.

“Most are private citizens, with some businesses and fishing groups,” he said.

“It’s a group action, so it’s not unusual for thousands of people to join. And pollution in the Wye have affected people over a wide area.”

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He explained: “The way it works is that we fist send a ‘letter before action’ giving the defendant the opportunity to respond.”

This claims that Avara is responsible for impairing the river quality, harming the species that live there, and also impacting on the various businesses that benefit from the river, and on people’s enjoyment of it.

The was sent in June and gave Avara three months to respond.

“We will then issue a claim in court, which is likely to be autumn,” Mr Holland said. An initial hearing would then determine the timetable for the trial.

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“With evidence from experts and witnesses, and various hearings along the way, and it could take two or three years, and might not go all the way (to a High Court trial).”

He added: “We wouldn’t pursue this if we didn’t feel we had a good prospect of success.”

Avara declined to comment on the case.

Leigh Day is meanwhile also taking legal action against Shropshire Council over its decision in May to permit a 230,000-bird unit by the river Severn west of Shrewsbury, saying the council “disregarded critical objections” to the proposal.