Thames at Oxford to get bathing status in effort to clean up English rivers

Campaigners hope encouraging wild swimming will press water companies to reduce discharge of raw sewage

A stretch of the Thames is to get bathing status for the first time, in an attempt to ensure the water becomes safe and clean for swimming.

Part of the Wolvercote Mill Stream at Port Meadow, Oxford, an area popular with wild swimmers, will be only the second inland stretch of water to be officially designated as bathing water from next month.