AN ADVENTURER is dressing up as a mermaid and swimming 200 miles to raise awareness about single use plastics.

The Urban Mermaid, Lindsey Cole, is taking to the water at The Riverside Inn in Lechlade to take on the challenge down the Thames.

She is taking on the epic challenge to raise awareness about the affect single use plastic is having on the environment.

Lindsey is setting off today at midday from the Thames side pub, with the aim to swim to Teddington Lock, 200 miles away.

Along the way she will be collecting plastic to show how 'we’re choking our mermaids and creatures in our waters'.

Lindsey’s support boat will be manned by artist, Barbara de Moubray, who will be pulling a giant mermaid sculpture made of plastic bottles.

They will be asking passers-by to litter pick along the river and put their findings into the mermaid.

By the time they reach London, the sculpture will represent how much plastic we’re putting into our River Thames.

Over the month of November, Lindsey and Barbara will visit schools along the Thames to tell them about the plastic problem in the River Thames and to educate them on alternatives to plastic.

Lindsey said: “In 1950, the world's population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic, in 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced over 320 million tons of plastic.

“The Urban Mermaid is a collaborative project and is supporting other eco warriors who already run initiatives.

"We’re asking passersby to do a @2minutelittlepick, a nationwide concept."

Julie Moss of Arkell’s Brewery who own The Riverside Inn added: “We are pleased to support Lindsey and her efforts.

"It is very hard in this industry to keep plastic use down and it is something we are looking into as a company and at our various hotels, inns and pubs across the region.”