Children who live near a beauty spot say they are concerned the river through their village is “dying” after conducting water quality sampling.

Pupils from Dedham Church of England Primary School in Essex asked a local climate action charity to help them investigate pollution in a stretch of the River Stour popular with swimmers, paddleboarders and tourists.

Year Four teacher Emily Keeley said the children were “really quite disheartened to find it was so polluted” but were passionate about raising awareness of the issue.