Councillors have welcomed a scheme that will see a stretch of bathing quality water created in the River Leam in Warwickshire.

Severn Trent announced in June that it would be investing £78million into 50km of the region's rivers, with the River Leam and the Teme in Ludlow chosen as pilot projects.

Locally the scheme is set to be completed by March 2025 and councillors were updated on the project during a "very energetic" presentation from Severn Trent CEO Liv Garfield earlier this month.

Speaking at the last Kenilworth Town Council meeting, Cllr Richard Dickson said: "In no way am I suggesting that outdoor bathing in the River Leam is an acceptable replacement for outdoor swimming in Kenilworth Lido. 

"The two are very different issues and I don't doubt they will be very different experiences. 

"But nonetheless outdoor swimming is acknowledged to have substantial physical and mental health benefits." 

While he welcomed the plans, Cllr Dickson added: "I am not naive enough to think that they are doing it for any other reason than the regulator might tell them they have to do it anyway."

Town councillors unanimously backed a motion to write to Ms Garfield and the leader and chief executive of Warwick District Council expressing their support for the scheme.

Cllr Pippa Austin added: "It is not as good as something in our backyard in Kenilworth but at least it is a step forward and we have to make the most of that."

Wilfred Denga, Bathing Rivers Lead said: "It's been wonderful to be able to share our vision for the project here in Warwick District. We had a diverse audience that are really invested in what's happening in their area, demonstrating just how important our rivers and their environments are to us all."

He added: "Without the input from our communities, this project will not be successful – as after all, we're doing this work so that those who live here, or visit, can benefit from healthier, cleaner rivers.

"We would like our communities to be able to keep up to date with our work, and have created a project specific webpage for people to get updates and even get in touch"