NO chemicals or pollution have been found at a spot where a group of teenagers fell ill after swimming in the water.

Public Health England flagged up concerns over the water near Rishton Paper Mill.

Schoolboy Billy Smith had been in the water with some friends and later developed symptoms of diarrhoea and sickness and was hospitalised as he became so ill.

Environment Agency officials carried out investigation.

Now his mum, Jo Smith from Great Harwood, has been contacted by Environment Agency with the results to say that results showed no signs of chemicals in the waterway.

It said: “The water samples showed levels of E-Coli bacteria. This would normally be expected in an area of open water.”

The mum-of-one said that after speaking to Public Health England officials that the chemicals could possibly be ‘diluted and have disappeared’ as a result of torrential downpours.

The 36-year-old said: “I am glad that there are no chemicals in the water but I was convinced there must have been something in there because of how ill my son was.

“You always associate E-Coli with food but obviously not and I would tell people to stay out of the water as E-Coli can make you sick.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency has analysed water samples taken at the Rishton Paper Mill site. The water samples showed levels of E-Coli bacteria but no evidence of chemical contamination. The Environment Agency is working with Public Health England to advise people not to enter the water, and if they do, risk becoming unwell from the bacteria present as found in the samples taken. We encourage members of the public who do spot anything unusual in their local watercourse to report it on : 0800 80 70 60.”