A GWENT recycling firm is being investigated after effluent was found to escaping from a composting site into an army-training base.

Wormtech, a green and food-waste processing company based near Caerwent, faced two enforcement notices following the Environment Agency probe.

As a precaution the adjacent army training area was put out of bounds, according to the MoD.

The agency said its investigation is ongoing and could result in further action against the company, including a prosecution.

During a routine inspection in January officers discovered effluent flowing from a redundant drain-pipe, part of a disused surface drainage system.

It was through the drainage system that the effluent, later identified to be a substance known as leachate, was found to be escaping into the training site.

As a result in February Wormtech was hit with two enforcement notices ordering it to investigate and stop the leak.

On April 27 the notices were withdrawn after the firm complied with the agency’s requests.

The EA could not say how much effluent was released, and said the rate the effluent was flowing out was low.

A Wormtech spokesman said as soon as the leak was identified action was taken to stop it.

He said: "We installed a totally sealed drainage system on the site, which means no leachate can leave it and no leak of this type can happen again."

"The leachate will in future be removed and taken to a licensed treatment centre. In addition, we have appointed a consultant to investigate how the leak happened."

He said there were no health concerns and apologised for any concern.

Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Wastesavers, who deal with Newport’s waste, all use Wormtech services.

None of the councils said the enforcement action affected their relationship with Wormtech.

Asked whether the incident posed a risk to human health, the EA said it has referred the incident to Monmouthshire’s Environmental Health team.

The team could not be contacted as we went to press.