New Mills WI members don poo costumes to highlight the filthy state of UK rivers

Women's Institute members chose a novel way to highlight the mucky condition of the UK's rivers, waterways and beaches.

As part of the WI’s ‘Action on Clean Rivers Week’, members across the UK highlighted this nasty issue; including the New Mills Women’s Institute (NMWI) which held a pooh-sticks ‘Floater Race’ stunt along the Goyt River, the Torrs.

Their floaters were covered in the kind of pollutants and unflushed nasties that are to be found in this and many of the UK's rivers.

Members got into the spirit of things by wearing a giant poo costume, and offering passers-by emoji-poo cupcakes.

The WI will be joining the March for Clean Water in London, on Sunday, November 3, alongside a consortium of charities such as River Action, Wildlife Trusts, Surfers Against Sewage, Greenpeace, RSPB and thousands of members of the public – to fight for the right to access clean, safe water.

Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said: “The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on November 3.

“We invite all our members who want to see decisive action to resolve the water crisis once and for all, to march alongside us. While we’re encouraged by the government’s response to our calls for a comprehensive review of the water system, we must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action to deliver lasting solutions.

"Together the March for Clean Waters attendants will send a clear message to the Government to take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas by the raw sewage, agricultural waste, and other chemical pollutants. The WI wants to see transformative legislation from this Government that tackles the water crisis once and for all."