Members of the Surfers Against Sewage campaign group paid a visit to Aysgarth Falls to find out about pollution in the River Ure.

They were invited by Richard Loukota, the interim chair of the group being formed to campaign against the pollution of the River Ure and its tributaries.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has embarked on an Election Road Trip, travelling the length of the UK to urge communities to demand election candidates end sewage pollution. It wants to take the sewage debate to political, sewage and surfing hotspots.

The group was invited by Save Our Swale (SOS) campaigners to the constituency previously held by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to stage one of its hustings at Richmond on Friday evening (June 21).

(Image: Contributor)

In Wensleydale, Aysgarth Falls is a key beauty spot but the Association of Rural Communities, which has sponsored the creation of the River Ure group, has pointed out that the Falls are affected by raw sewage discharges.

(Image: Contributor)

With its brightly painted open-top double-decker battle bus its team on Thursday (Ann McKelvey, Chloe Flood, Kirsty Davies and Katie Bone) were delighted to be able to visit the Upper Falls at Aysgarth where they were met by Prof Loukota and others keen to see an end to the pollution of the River Ure.

Prof Loukota said: "Surfers Against Sewage are very keen to have safe water for everyone and they have been incredibly supportive of Save Our Swale. They have kindly offered their support with everything you need to know when you are setting up a group." 

He added: "We are struggling together."

He hopes an online database for rivers could be developed similar to the Surfers Against Sewage one for seas and oceans. "I think the pollution of the rivers is becoming something people are concerned about and it is going to affect their voting," added Prof Loukota.