AN Oxfordshire MP has called on water companies to ‘clean up their acts’ after a report uncovered evidence of ‘illegal dry spills’ into Britain’s waterways.

Liberal democrat Layla Moran, who represents Oxford West and Abingdon, was speaking after a report released by Surfers Against Sewage.

The report uses data from Surfers Against Sewage’s Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS) which logs sewage overflows that discharge pollution into 388 beach and river locations.

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It comes just weeks after the Environment Agency reported that Wolvercote Mill Stream, the second bathing water status site in the UK, had failed safety tests, with bacteria levels making it unsafe to swim.

Responding to the report, Ms Moran said: “This is a national environmental scandal. Water companies need to clean their act up and stop these illegal sewage discharges.

“We should be able to enjoy our rivers, lakes, and coastlines without worrying about serious illnesses.

“Months of chaos at the top of Government and a constant carousel of Environment Secretaries has meant that instead of action taken to hold water companies to account, we have only seen empty threats from the Government.

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“We need to take urgent action and hold water companies to account for their negligent behaviour. The time is now to save Britain’s waterways.”

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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