Clevedon’s Curzon cinema will be showing “Rave on for the Avon” on May 4th, a film focused on Bristol’s Avon River and the dangers it now faces due to the recent increase in sewage dumping and pollution.

The film was made by director Charlotte Sawyer after the UK’s waterways have been put under threat by water companies and sewage dumping.

In 2023 the UK’s Environment Agency said there was an estimated 3.6 million hours of sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas, a fact that means only 14% of rivers in England are considered in good ecological condition, with none in good chemical health.

Clevedon Beach did not escape the onslaught and was polluted by spills 211 times in 2023, a total of 2,456 hours, ranking it the 20th most polluted beach in England and Wales.

Rave on for the Avon chronicles the local community’s efforts to preserve their beloved river and the film crescendos with local adventure mermaid Lindsey Cole becoming the first person to swim across the Bristol Channel in a mermaid tail, to raise awareness of sewage pollution.

Mermaid Lindsey spoke about why stopping spills is so important. She said: “Once pollution gets out into the Channel, that’s it.

“It goes right out into the ocean and there’s nothing we can do about it.

“We’ve got an incredible community who are doing all they can to stop sewage pollution, it’s beautiful to be a part of.”

Filmmaker Swayer added: “This film is about love.

“The love people have for our rivers and the love they feel in return.”

Rave on for the Avon premiered at a sold out 300 capacity event in Bristol and will have its Clevedon preview on Saturday May 4th at the Curzon at 6pm.

The preview will be followed by a live panel with former Clevedon Lake chair Rowan Clarke and the film's campaigners Lindsey Cole and Meg Avon Trump.

Tickets are available from the Curzon and are expected to sell out. Early bird tickets available here until April 24th.