China's river of blood: Polluted river turns red

Striking images have emerged of a river in China turning blood red, creating a colourful effect against its usual green.

The Anning River in Sichuan Province is usually a bright aquatic green, but mixed with red water flowing into it from the Sunshui River.

The two rivers meet at Lugu Town, which has a population of about 25,000 people concentrated along the banks of both rivers.

It is not known what caused the colour change, but rivers are known to turn red from a build-up of sediment or iron, but it can also be caused by industrial run-off.

In April, another Chinese river turn an even more crimson shade after industrial waste from iron and steel factories was illegally dumped into it.

The Zhongting River, close to northern China's historic Shengfang town, changed its colour suddenly in a matter of minutes to the disgust of nearby residents.