FEARS that Yorkshire Water was planning to dump raw sewage into the River Ure at Masham have been allayed.

News of the plan first broke after a public notice was spotted in the press.

Yorkshire Water has now apologised for not telling the town council ahead of the notice, and officials have met councillors and taken them on a tour of the town's new £2m sewage works, to see how treatment has improved dramatically following Yorkshire Water's investment in the area.

The original announcement sparked protests from Masham Town Council and neighbouring Azereley Parish Council. Anglers also expressed concern.

However, Masham council chairman Coun Peter Nicklas said members had been assured no raw sewage would be discharged into the Ure. After having the situation explained, he believed the original fears had been wrong.

He said that because the new sewage works was on a higher site, there was less likelihood of flooding. "Yorkshire Water assured us that if there was a power cut it would be about four hours before anything started to happen," he said.

Yorkshire Water had given pledges that standby generators would be in place to keep the works operating. If they failed, other measures would be used as back-up.

Details of how Yorkshire Water would cope should the Ure flood and threaten the sewage system were given by Ms Pippa McPherson, the company's communication officer, and the company's area sewage manager, Mr Jeremy Housley.

Asked what Masham Town Council's stance was following assurances that only treated sewage would go into the Ure in emergencies, Coun Nicklas said to a certain extent members had withdrawn their objections. He believed the Masham meeting had been satisfied and reassured.

Ms McPherson said: "It was a very positive meeting and we were able to explain exactly what was happening."