A HI-TECH Tewkesbury company has been ordered to pay nearly £7,000 after admitting it discharged excess copper into the River Severn.

Representatives from Exception PCB Ltd, which is based in the Ashchurch Business Centre, pleaded guilty to the offence.

The firm was fined £2,500 and told to pay prosecution costs totalling £4,420 for the offence, which Stroud Magistrates' Court heard happened in October 2009.

The Tewkesbury branch of Exception's managing director Gordon Holden was in court to hear prosecutor Clare Lamont outline the case against the firm.

Miss Lamont, representing Severn Trent Water Ltd, said the discharge of copper was "more than three-and-a-half times in excess of the amount allowed".

The charge was for a breach of the conditions of Exception's consent to discharge into the sewer, Miss Lamont said.

The copper was found at Tewkesbury Sewerage Works, where samples were taken and an investigation was later launched, Miss Lamont said.

Investigators then attended the Exception site.

Miss Lamont said: "Copper is a toxic substance and has concerns for the health of people working within the sewers."

Defending, Andrew Wilkins said Exception manufactures printed circuit boards.

He said the firm operates "cutting edge" technology and added that the wind turbine industry, medical life sciences and the Government were among its major clients.

"They are an impressive world class business and take this matter very seriously," Mr Wilkins said.

Exception had a dedicated plant to treat its waste water, which had heavy metals including copper in it, and monitored samples daily, he said.

Mr Wilkins added the firm had taken immediate action to address the problem.

He said: "Within two days they had been invoiced by a consultant so far as what (remedial) work should be done.

"The total costs that were incurred from the time they were made aware of the matter until they received the summons was some £72,000.

"In addition there are £15,000 worth of work as far as new plant going in. They have taken steps before this matter and have taken steps since."

Speaking outside court, a spokesman for Severn Trent Water said: "It's part of our job to protect the environment and that's why we impose restrictions on the level of copper in the water.

"We monitor closely what goes back into our waterways but our works don't take out copper from water and that's why we brought this case.

"Copper can be potentially toxic to fish and aquatic life. Taking a company to court is a last resort but if it's necessary we will do it."