THREE-QUARTERS of Britain’s rivers are in poor ecological health, largely thanks to pollution from water companies, a new study led by citizen scientists found today.

More than 2,600 people across Britain went out and measured the water quality of their local rivers as part of a mass campaign organised by environmental charity Earthwatch Europe.

From the samples collected, the charity found that rivers in Thames and Anglia were in the worst state, with 89 per cent in poor ecological health.