CLIMATE activists unfurled a huge “stop polluting our rivers” banner over the Thames in central London at the weekend.

The Extinction Rebellion (XR) Red Rebel Brigade, a striking performance art troupe, marched solemnly across Westminster Bridge during Saturday’s protest.

Activists from the direct action group also held “spiritual water ceremonies” at Tower Bridge and Thames Beach, which aimed to “honour the water without which there is no life.”

The events were part of XR’s World Water Wedding campaign, inspired by campaigner Meg Avon, who married the River Avon in 2023 to raise awareness of pollution.

It will culminate on March 22 2026, when activists will symbolically marry their chosen body of water — whether rain, river, lake, sea or even a puddle.

The campaign aims to draw attention to the shocking state of Britain’s waterways. According to research by Surfers Against Sewage, there were 994,499 discharges of human excrement into rivers and other waterways last year alone.

Ned Wells of the Oxfordshire Clean Rivers Initiative said: “Water is life. UK water companies provide essential services with no competition.

“And it’s been profitable: Thames Water alone has paid out nearly £7.2 billion in dividends since privatisation.

“At the same time, Thames Water has built up £19bn of debt – not because it needed to but using debt cut its tax bill while still allowing big dividend payouts.

“Now it is asking for a £3bn bailout just to keep operating.

“It’s time to get away from the ‘illegally polluting for profit’ business model.”