Thames swim brings in water quality tests

Organisers will be testing the water and passing on the results to swimmers before the July event

A swimming race cancelled after concerns over pollution is set to bring in testing to inform participants about water quality on the course.

The Boulter's to Bray Swim along the River Thames in Maidenhead was pulled last year after the water was found to be unfit for swimming.

Organisers said they would use a laboratory to test and publish the results of the water quality testing ahead of the race which was set to take place on 2 July.

Swimmers can take on a 5km (3.1 mile), 2.8km (1.7mile) or 1.4km (0.9 mile) course.

Keith Dixon from the Boulter's to Bray Swim Trust said he was "optimistic" the event would take place on 2 July.

"We have organised a system of providing the results of the tests to the swimmers so they can make a decision about going in the water."

However he added: "High rainfall causes a massive risk due to overflow from the roads into the river and the release of sewage from the works that are just up river from us... so high rainfall is a probability of a definite cancel."

Dating back to the 1890s, the event starts at Boulter's Lock and sees swimmers go under two bridges including the 13-arch Maidenhead Bridge.

The race is due to open for entries at the end of January with this year's numbers increasing from 250 to 300 swimmers.

Thames Water previously said: "taking action to improve the health of rivers is a key focus for us, and we are leading the way with our transparent approach to data".