Surfing drone created in Australia, first to be used to monitor rivers in Shropshire

A new type of drone is being used to monitor Shropshire's rivers, accessing hard-to-reach locations and gathering a clearer picture of the health of waterways.

The technology, called Surfbee, has been developed in Australia, and Severn Trent Water is believed to be among the first water firms in the UK to use it.

The battery-powered drone is an inflatable, yellow paddleboard, fitted with onboard cameras, sampling equipment and temperature monitors.