Water quality campaigners immortalised as statues

Robin Bartlett was the model for one of the statues

A sculpture of five people has been unveiled near a beach as part of a campaign to improve sea water quality.

The statues are outside the Neptune pub in Whitstable, Kent, and are the work of Faversham artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

The work, called Sirens of Sewage, has been created in collaboration with the group SOS Whitstable, which campaigns against sewage releases.

Robin Bartlett, who was a model for one of the figures, said: "The casting process was very strange, being covered in plaster, it was wet and cold stuck to your skin.

"Then it hardened and you literally can't move, your whole body is in a plaster cast.

"It was a bit like being under water."

Rose Bircham from SOS Whitstable with the statue based on her

Rose Bircham, a member of SOS Whitstable, was also cast as one of the figures.

"When Jason approached us we jumped at the chance," she said, "he's been a supporter of ours from the start so we knew his vision was going to be aligned with ours.

"This piece is a permanent reminder of the fight that we've got.

"I never thought I would be on show for the town to see, just standing there in my swimming costume, but it's worth it."

The installation will be in place for six months, after which it is hoped to find it a permanent home.