Giant Like Jerram E.coli sculpture at Bristol sewage protest

Jerram, who kayaks in the harbour in Bristol and whose previous work includes a sun in a swimming pool, said the sculpture is “five million times larger than the real thing”.

He said: “I really care about this place, and if we get it right we should be able to clean up the docks and make it a place for everyone to enjoy – make it safe, beautiful and full of wildlife.”

The national protest was organised by Surfers Against Sewage.

Professor Steve Simpson, University of Bristol Professor of Marine Biology and Global Change, said: “We’ve seen improvements but at the moment standards are slipping.

“There’s been a lot of loss of regulation and as a result now we’re starting to see people get sick from surfing again. That can’t be the future.”

Anna Steele-Perkins, volunteer at Surfers against Sewage in Bristol, said: “We want public health to be put first and foremost. We need a restructure, the end of privatisation, and to put people over profit.”