Churches are protesting after sewage spilled into the UK waterways following a weekend of thunderstorms. 

One cathedral, on the banks of the Wye, has launched a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, aboard wooden canoes, down the river. 

The statue floated 75 miles down the Wye, from Hay-on-Wye to Monmouth, The Independent reports. 

As Our Lady of the Waters and the Wye passed down the waterway, churches rang their bells and choirs sang out, protesting the water pollution that has come to fruition in recent days. 

The week-long protest saw people picnicking and praying along the river. 

Father Willams, from St Mary's Church in Hay-on-Wye, told The Independent: "It's right that the Church should be involved in these things because nothing beautiful is wasted on God, and therefore if we worship God then nothing beautiful should be wasted on us."

The pollution has been caused by overflowing sewage, agricultural run-off and the current drought, creating a toxic environment for those that call the rivers and beaches their home. 

Last week saw a record number of salmon deaths.

"I naturally and instinctively wanted to do something," Father Williams continued. 

"How can you claim to give worth to the invisible if you're not celebrating the worth of that which is very visible and very loved?"

"There's been a most wonderful response. A very sweet response to the whole thing. I've been very moved by it all really," he said.