River clean-up vow after Boat Race warning

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Steve Reed has vowed to clean up the Thames following warnings that competitors in today’s Boat Race are risking their health.

- By Jonathan Walker

He said he was “angry” after sewage spilled into the river for almost 7,000 hours last year.

The annual 4.2-mile race between Oxford and Cambridge universities traditionally ends with the winning team throwing their cox in the water.

But environmental campaigners have warned the Thames has unsafe levels of E coli bacteria. And race organisers have told rowers to cover open wounds and shower after coming off the river.