Manningtree, Cambridge and Sudbury get new bathing status

The Manningtree Mermaids swim in the River Stour all year round

Swimmers have welcomed the news that three sites in the East of England are getting designated bathing water status.

Manningtree beach in Essex, the River Cam at Sheep's Green in Cambridge and the River Stour at Sudbury in Suffolk are among 27 new sites in England.

The Environment Agency (EA) will monitor them during the bathing season.

"We are absolutely delighted," said Helen Whitehead, from the Manningtree Mermaids group.

"The River Stour is the heart of our town and we want to protect it for generations to come."

Manningtree beach, on the River Stour estuary, is affected by three sewer storm overflows

The EA would investigate pollution sources and identify steps to be taken in response, which could include actions by water companies, farmers and others.

Swimmers at all three sites have experienced problems with sewage.

Tests previously carried out at the River Stour, on the Essex-Suffolk border near the Sudbury water treatment works, showed "very high" levels of E. coli bacteria.

Wild swimmers at Sheep's Green, off Fen Causeway in Cambridge, hope the bathing water status will keep them safe

A Cambridge City Council report recently indicated people swimming in the Cam were being exposed to "significant health risks".

Anne Miller, a member of Cam Valley Forum, said it involved a huge amount of work to get the status.

"It's a huge relief, it won't solve all our problems but it will certainly help.

"From our own water testing we know the water quality is almost certainly going to be rated as poor.

"That will trigger action to find out where the source of the problem is. We think it is likely to be the sewage works about four miles upstream (6.4km) and hopefully something will be done about it."

The Manningtree Mermaids held several protests at the beach, which has three sewer storm overflow outlets in the vicinity, and organised a mass swim.

Wild swimmers in Manningtree have organised several protests about the water quality of the River Stour

Catherine Arnold from the group said: "We are so thrilled our hard work has paid off. Now we can start to understand a little more about whether there is a risk for us to swim or not."

Catherine Arnold (left), Anna Helm Baxter (middle) and Helen Whitehead (right) organised the campaign in Manningtree, where the river estuary divides Essex from Suffolk

The new sites will take the total number of bathing waters to 451 across England.

Conservative Water Minister Robbie Moore said: "These popular swimming spots will now undergo regular monitoring to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on the quality of the water and enable action to be taken if minimum standards aren't being met.

"I am fully committed to seeing the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes rise further for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses them."

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