'Don't swim' at 12 of 14 river bathing sites, as more locations announced
Key takeaways
- It comes as the government announces six new river bathing sites will be monitored for the first time this summer, including a first location on the River Thames in London.
- In the last week the BBC has visited all the 14 existing inland river locations which were tested by the Environment Agency last year for contamination from bacteria linked to human and animal faeces.
- Only the River Stour in Suffolk and the River Thames in Oxfordshire had acceptable levels, while water quality at the 12 others was rated "poor" and people advised not to swim.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Jonah Fisher Environment correspondent Jonah Fisher/BBCThe River Ribble at Clitheroe in Lancashire is a designated bathing site but its water quality has been rated as "poor" by the Environment Agency Signs warning people not to swim are in place at almost all of England's official river bathing sites due to concerns the water could be unsafe.
It comes as the government announces six new river bathing sites will be monitored for the first time this summer, including a first location on the River Thames in London.
In the last week the BBC has visited all the 14 existing inland river locations which were tested by the Environment Agency last year for contamination from bacteria linked to human and animal faeces.