A REPORT revealing that the Okement River is now the premier spawning ground for salmon in the Torridge catchment has delighted members of the recently formed Rivers Improvement Group in Okehampton.

Efforts to clean-up the river by the group members together with improvements to the weir at Monkokehampton and measures to eliminate hazardous waste from Meldon Quarry have resulted in the Okement's status as a 'very important tributary' of the River Torridge.

The Westcountry Rivers Trust, which is committed to restoring and improving the region's rivers, stated in a report that the river regularly showed the highest juvenile salmon counts on electro-fishing surveys.

Director of the charitable trust Arlin Rickard described the Okement as 'the lungs' of the River Torridge.

'The Environment Agency has been working to improve both the river and the access for salmon,' he said.

'Obstructions have been removed so salmon can travel up the river and work has been going on with the quarry to improving water quality.'

Mr Rickard said the efforts by the Okehampton group to clean-up the river and create a diversity of habitats which would not only benefit fish but insects, birds, bats were great steps forward.

The Rivers Improvement Group was formed last year following a drive by the Mayor of Okehampton Christine Marsh to get more people interested in this often forgotten feature of the town.

Group member Alan Finch said of Okehampton:'There cannot be many towns where two rivers meet in the middle — it is what makes Okehampton different and special.'

Over the next few months the group will be organising selective clearance of trees and shrubs along the banks to improve the river for wildlife and provide better views for the public.