One in three people prefer to swim with sharks than in sewage-contaminated water

One in three people say they would rather swim with sharks than in sewage-contaminated water, a poll has found.

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show places used for traditional festive swims were contaminated with sewage 3,799 times last year, lasting for 24,433 hours.

In Morecambe Bay, sewage was dumped for almost 6,000 hours in 2023, the last year for which figures are available.

In a poll by Savanta, commissioned by the Lib Dems, 33 per cent said they would prefer to swim in water infested with great white sharks, compared to 27 per cent who would pick water contaminated with sewage.

Community swims take place across Britain on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

This year, a swim in Kent has been forced to cancel its annual Boxing Day swim because of rising levels of E.coli.

In Cornwall, a “Santa Surf” set to take place earlier this month was cancelled because of sewage dumps by South West Water the day before the event.

Tim Farron, the party’s environment spokesman, said: “It is a gobsmacking indictment of how disgustingly polluted our rivers, lakes and beaches have become that people would be happier swimming with sharks than in sewage-infested waters.

“We’re going to need a bigger regulator; it is outrageous that water companies have been allowed to get away with this scandal while their bosses pocket huge bonuses.

“Yet again, long-established festive swims are being ruined by filthy sewage dumping. This has to end now so that next Christmas, families can enjoy festive swims without the fear of sewage pollution.”

Morecambe Bay, which hosts an annual Boxing Day dip for charity, had 757 sewage dumps in 2023, with sewage flowing for a total of 5,860 hours.

Windermere, host to a Boxing Day swim which encourages participants to wear their best fancy dress, had sewage dumped 345 times, totalling 5,259 hours throughout 2023.

In Devon, hundreds turn out for the annual Christmas Day morning swim on Exmouth Beach, with a local boat company even chartering cruises to watch the festive spectacle.

But in 2023, South West Water discharged sewage into the sea there 214 times, for a total of 1,984 hours.

In summer, a “no swim” warning was issued by the Environment Agency because of pollution levels, now festive swims could see the same fate.