Record high number of England's bathing areas have poor water quality

Water quality has been designated as poor in a record number of bathing areas this year after 16 rivers were included in summer testing for harmful bacteria, figures reveal.

- Sandra Laville

The push to clean up England's rivers has led to an increase in demand for bathing water status at river locations across the country. The results show river water quality is distinctly worse than at coastal bathing sites.

The results come after sewage pollution into rivers by water companies reached record levels last year.

This year, 16 river areas were designated as bathing water sites out of 27 new areas, which meant they were tested for harmful bacteria, E coli and enterococci.

Across the country, 450 locations have bathing water status and are tested during the summer season.

This year a record number of areas - 37, or 8.2% - did not meet the minimum standards for bathing waters and were classified as poor.