ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to hand over enough cash for regulators to uphold vital laws protecting Britain’s waterways ahead of Wednesday’s Budget.

River Action says that without proper funding, watchdogs such as the Environment Agency will not have the resources needed to combat pollution from water firms and intensive farming. 

In the spring Budget, the previous Tory government reduced funding for the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, where the regulator operates, from £4.8 billion to £4.2bn.