Swimmers would rather paddle with great white sharks than in water contaminated with sewage, new polling shows.
The research was carried out amid growing alarm about the state of Britain’s filthy waters.
One in three said they would pick water infested with the dangerous predators, compared to 27% who would choose filthy rivers and seas.
A grim study by the Lib Dems found popular festive swimming spots saw sewage dumped in them a combined total of 3,799 times last year.
This year, a swim in Kent was forced to cancel an annual Boxing Day swim due to rising levels of E.Coli.
In Cornwall, a ‘Santa Surf’ due to take place earlier this month was cancelled due to sewage dumps by South West Water.
Morecambe Bay, which hosts an annual Boxing Day dip for charity, had 757 sewage dumps in 2023 – with sewage flowing for a shocking total of 5,860 hours.
Lib Dem Tim Farron 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.”
The data was collected by Savanta, which interviewed 2,170 UK adults.