Foyle Food Group, which has a facility in Cinderford, was fined £40,000 at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court, after pleading guilty to charges of breaching their trade effluent consent.

Severn Trent recorded almost four times the allowed level of phosphorus and 12 times the limit for suspended solids at its Blakeney Sewage Treatment Works in the Forest of Dean in January this year. 

The company then traced the issue back to Foyle's Cinderford facility, which is based in the Forest Vale Industrial Estate.

James Jesic, managing director of production at Severn Trent, said: "It's absolutely vital that we take this sort of legal action to protect both our treatment works and also the environment, as well as recovering costs that, otherwise, our customers would have to bear."

In mitigation, Foyles, which has its HQ in Northern Ireland, pointed to the significant sums it has spent on improving its plant. In addition to the fine, Foyle Food Group was ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge of £170, together with all of the prosecution costs which were agreed at £4,054.19.

Severn Trent recorded phosphorus levels of 97.4mg/l compared to a limit of 25mg/l, and suspended solids of 12,300mg/l compared to a limit of 1,000mg/l on 6th January this year.