OXON: The River Thames is to twin with the River Ganges in India in a £210,000 initiative to share ways to protect wildlife and reduce pollution.

Indian scientists will visit the UK to learn how the Thames was restored from being biologically dead in the 1950s to become one of the cleanest urban rivers in the world.

Villagers along 1,660 kilometres of the upper Ganges and its tributary will be helped to look after their rivers by changing farming methods and reducing pressure on fish stocks.

The Thames Rivers Restoration Trust is funding the project using prize money from the 2010 Theiss Riverprize.