Dozens attend trespass swim protest at reservoir

Campaigners said they should be able to access reservoirs owned by water companies

Dozens of swimmers have taken part in a mass trespass at a Derbyshire reservoir.

Wild swimmers took to the waters of Staunton Harold Reservoir near Melbourne, in protest against rules which does not allow them to access open waters owned by utility companies.

Reservoir managers said some areas can be dangerous but organisers of the protest swim said they should be able to choose.

Campaigner Laurie May Ackroyd told the BBC: "This is what this movement is about - to get the waters back."

Campaigners said the protest takes inspiration from the the mass walking trespass at Kinder Scout in Derbyshire in 1932, which opened up the "right to roam" movement in the UK and paved the way for the creation of national parks in 1949.

Dozens of open water swimmers took part in the protest on Sunday at Staunton Harold Reservoir near Melbourne

Ms Ackroyd said open water swimming has become more popular in the last few years.

She became involved in open-water swimming during the Covid-19 period but said she found it "more and more difficult" to find suitable locations.

"When the reservoirs became privatised, it was part of an agreement that they would still be accessible for recreational use," she said.

"Unfortunately, the water companies haven't included swimming as a recreational activity.

"Why shouldn't we be able to swim where we want to swim?

A larger protest at Kinder reservoir near Whaley Bridge also took place on Sunday with hundreds of people attending.

Campaigner Laurie May Ackroyd said swimmers should have the ability to choose where to swim

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: "We take the safety of visitors extremely seriously and want them to be conscious of how dangerous our reservoirs can be.

"Our reservoirs are operational sites with deep, cold water and hidden hazards and any experienced swimmer could get into trouble.

"We do allow planned swim events at our sites when the right health and safety arrangements and supervision is in place."