A Monmouthshire resident has spoken out after her six-year-old dog Tess became seriously ill from E.coli poisoning after swimming in a local river-sparking fresh calls to clean up the UK’s polluted waterways.

Tess, a Sprollie had gone for her usual swim and drink at the river near her home, but later in the evening, she began violently vomiting and was rushed to the vet.

Tests confirmed Tess had contracted E. Coli from the contaminated water.

The illness left her refusing to eat or drink, needing three weeks of antibiotics. Her owner feared she wouldn’t survive.

Jane Angel a Monmouthshire resident said: “Tess went down to the river as she usually does- she loves the water, had a drink and a swim, but later that evening she was being violently sick and had diarrhoea.”

“The vet confirmed it was E. coli poisoning from the river.”

Tess had to be on antibiotics for three weeks. She wouldn’t eat or drink anything. I was worried sick that I was going to lose her.”

“We haven’t been back to the river since. We got her a paddling pool for the garden instead.”

“Tess supports me with my mental health and I wouldn’t know what to do without her-she's my life.”

“I just want rivers to go back to how they used to be. I’ve lived in Monmouthshire all my life and it’s never been like this. We used to swim and paddle-now I’m worried about children and other dogs still going in the rivers.”

Catherine Fookes, MP for Monmouthshire, has been supporting Jane and said Tess’s illness was a shocking example of the consequences of long-term neglect of the UK’s waterways.

Ms Fookes said, “The fact that Jane’s dog became so incredibly ill is shocking. It’s a damning reflection of the Conservatives’ failure to protect and clean up our rivers. Fifteen years of underinvestment and inaction have led to this.”

“I’m so relieved that Tess has fully recovered. I will continue to support Jane and keep pushing to deliver the changes we need in the water industry- so that both people and our beloved dogs, can once again swim in Monmouthshire rivers.”

Ms Fookes also welcomed the UK Government’s recent announcement of reforms to the water-sector-described as the “biggest in generation.”

The plans include over £100 billion of investment and the scrapping of Ofwat, to be replaced with a new single powerful regulator intended to deliver tougher enforcement and greater accountability, as well as a new Water Ombudsman.

This builds on the banning of bonuses and personal criminal liability for covering up sewage spills that was already instigated in the first 12 months of the Labour government.

“These reforms will lead to genuine change, not just headlines. We’ve waited too long while our rivers have been neglected. Now is the time to clean them up for good.”

The incident adds to growing public pressure on water companies and the Government to deliver real improvements and tougher enforcement to protect both people and the environment.