Those concerned about the water quality of the River Deben were given a look behind the scenes at the nearby sewage plant.

Anglian Water threw open the gates of its local Water Recycling Plant after the rise in concerns about water quality and the effects of overflows on the River Deben.

Woodbridge's plant is near Martlesham Creek on the Deben and has been the focus of many concerns over recent months.

East Anglian Daily Times: Dr Robin Price with one of the retention pools at Woodbridge Water Recycling Plant.Dr Robin Price with one of the retention pools at Woodbridge Water Recycling Plant. (Image: Paul Geater)

Tuesday's visit was led by Dr Robin Price, Anglian Water's Director of Quality and the Environment, who said its purpose was to be open with local people about their concerns that leaks could cause serious damage.

There have been concerns about water quality in the River Deben, and town councillor and open water swimmer Ruth Leach was one of those who had invited Dr Price to the area.

Members of Woodbridge Town Council and other local organisations were invited also.

Woodbridge is one of more than 1,100 water recyling plants in the Anglian Water which stretches from the Humber to the Thames and inland as far as Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.

East Anglian Daily Times: Anglian Water has more than 1,100 water recycling plants like that at Woodbridge across the region.Anglian Water has more than 1,100 water recycling plants like that at Woodbridge across the region. (Image: Paul Geater) Dr Price said there had been very few overflows into the River Deben from the plant or any other the other overflows in the Woodbridge area.

When there had been overflows it was because of very heavy rainfall - and it was floodwater run-off rather than raw sewage.East Anglian Daily Times: Recycling tanks at Woodbridge.Recycling tanks at Woodbridge. (Image: Paul Geater)

He showed off the retention tanks at the plant which hold floodwater run-off when there has been heavy rain.

Raw sewage goes through the plant and a number of filtration process - solid matter is removed and can then be broken down by anabolic digestion to produce methane and fertiliser that can be used on fields.

East Anglian Daily Times: Solid waste can be converted into methane and fertiliser.Solid waste can be converted into methane and fertiliser. (Image: Paul Geater)

Half of the electricity Anglian Water used is generated by its own methane - and the only thing that cannot be recycled and reused is material that should not be put down toilets like wet wipes.

Ms Leach said she was pleased so many people had come along to the visit and had been able to ask Dr Price and his team questions about the operation of the plant and Anglian Water in general.

She said there were still high levels of e-coli bacteria in The Deben but citizen science projects in the area suggested the general health of the river was improving.