Tabling the motion to protect the River Avon, Liberal Democrat councillor Andy Wait, said: “I expect all councils – unitary, town, and parish – to adopt this charter from the source to the sea.”

The resolution passed by the council is intended to cover the wider river area, including tributaries, and other issues such as agricultural runoff and industrial pollution as well as water companies’ sewage dumping.

The meeting heard from East Harptree mum Daisy Thompson, who said the nearby water recycling centre had discharged into the small brook near her house.

The brook leads into Chew River, which itself leads into the Avon.

“I certainly don’t let my children go into the river any more,” Thompson said.

As well as adopting the charter, the motion calls on the council to urgently review what measures it can take to improve water quality and biodiversity in the river and its tributaries.

It also calls on the council leader to set up regular meetings with water companies to hold them to account for discharges of untreated sewage into the river.