RESIDENTS of houses backing onto the River Tavy say they have been disgusted by the body of a calf that was washed up on the river bed and left there for more than two weeks.

The carcass had been washed down the river and as the river level dropped due to drier weather, it was grounded just down from Vigo Bridge.

Ken Shields, owner of Tavistock Fireplace and Stoves Centre on Vigo Bridge and who lives above the shop, said that the carcass was originally spotted up at Kelly College three weeks ago:

'It was up at Kelly and it would have been easier to get it out of the river from up there. I live on the property and the calf is right under my lounge window.

'It has been here for at least two weeks and there are flies all over it.

'It's supposed to be dry and sunny over the next few weeks so it's really going to stink.'

Mr Shields said that the staff at Kelly College rang around various authorities, such as the Environment Agency and Defra, and he also rang them and West Devon Borough Council's environmental health department when the carcass washed up at Vigo Bridge, but could not get an answer as to whose responsibility it was to remove it.

Richard Doswell, who lives in Dolvin Road and whose property backs on to the stretch of river where the carcass was, said: 'It is absolutely ridiculous how long it has been here for and to have such a possible health threat not dealt with.

'It's absolutely disgusting and sickening watching it deteriorate.'

Although the responsibility lies with the Environment Agency, the agency has been in discussions with West Devon Borough Council which has agreed to take control of the situation.

A spokesman for the borough said: 'We were informed by the Environment Agency and worried members of the public on Tuesday last week (May 28) that a dead calf was in the river at Vigo Bridge in Tavistock.

'It was obviously causing concern and distress and the Environment Agency asked us to assist them in removing the carcase. It was removed by contractors on Saturday.

'While we would have preferred that it was removed earlier, there was some difficulty in accessing that particular area of the river and removing the remains.'