Bristol band's campaign for wild swimming in Avon

Bristol band Elder Island donated three tracks to a documentary made by campaigners calling for improved water conditions

A Bristol band is campaigning for bathing water status for a stretch of the River Avon.

Three-piece Elder Island has said the water quality at Conham River Nature Reserve needs improving.

They have contributed some of their music to a documentary film 'Rave On for the Avon' made by campaigners fighting for the same cause.

"What the rivers are like now is so bad," guitarist David Havard said. "We're so connected to the river, we see it every day. We want better quality water here."

Producer Sonia Wagacka (left) and director Charlotte Sawyer (second right) said it was "important" to use Bristol music

The band, which is billed as genre-defying, live close to the river and wild swim there "all the time".

Vocalist Katy Sargent said a lot of their music is related to water.

"We're big wild swimmers ourselves," she said.

"When I watched [the documentary], I felt really proud to be part of it and that our music was adding to that emotion."

The documentary's director, Charlotte Sawyer, decided to use a soundtrack by the Bristol artists to "reflect the diversity" of the city.

"The eclectic yet very Bristolian mix of the film reflects how Rave On For The Avon cuts through the narrative that swimming in rivers is a white, middle class hobby," Ms Sawyer said.

"It is a way of life for so many people from all walks of life in Bristol and is an intrinsic need for so many to be happy, healthy and connected with the beautiful nature around them.

"Most of the musicians have a personal connection to this river and the campaign as they swim in the river, come to campaign events and raise awareness about the issue with their platform."

Campaigners want the river to be awarded a special bathing status

The documentary, which was made by The Conham Bathing group and first aired this year, also features music from Bristol DJ and composer, Ngaio Aniya.

"Her song Mazi is a positive song about young people in Easton, which is up the hill from the swimming spot," said Ms Sawyer.

Producer Sonia Wargacka added: "This film is about the power of community - and what better way to tell it than with sounds of the people who live, dance and make music here.

"The film resonated with so many people, and with the issue of sewage pollution being such a hot topic in the UK right now, we need to spread the word: we need to demand our rights to nature."

The Environment Agency tests water once a week in areas that have been granted bathing status and checks for harmful bacteria. When poor water quality is detected, improvement measures are put in place.

A Wessex Water spokesperson previously said: "We understand and support the desire to make more use of rivers for recreation, including swimming, so we've been working with the council and the Conham Bathing group to increase awareness of water quality.

"Lowland rivers will always have bacteria in them, while the safety of wild swimming at specific locations is for councils and others to determine. But we want to help people make an informed choice."