A BISHAM based canoeing organisation is lobbying Parlia- ment to overturn an ancient law - drawn up by William the Conqueror - restricting access to the rivers.

Tamsin Phipps of the British Canoe Union, based at Bisham Abbey Sports Centre, is campaigning to get the 11th century property law - which prevents people freely navigating British waterways - overturned. Only England, Wales and Iraq do not give citizens free access to their waterways.

Ms Phipps said: "Many inland waters are privately owned and to canoe or fish or even dip your feet in them without permission is technically trespassing.

"This goes back to the time of William The Conquerer and the Magna Carta when he gave the riverbanks and the river beds to his favourite barons.

"Along the Thames there are 13 tributaries and because of these laws not one of them can you canoe from the source to the river.

"So much for human rights."

Ms Phipps said river access would do for paddlers what the right to roam' has done for walkers to access the English and Welsh countryside.

She said the Government ought to support the campaign to encourage more people to take up outdoor sports.

The British Canoe Union represents 60,000 members and argues it's not just recreational paddlers who would benefit from opening up the rivers.

She also argued a legal right of access would help to improve the British Canoeing Olympic medal tally.

BCU members brought home three medals from Athens, and are aiming for four in the London 2012 Games, including possibly two gold medals.

Ms Phipps said opening up the waterways would also generate more money for rural communities such as Bisham and Marlow.

She said: "Research has shown that canoeing contributes about £750million a year for the economy of England and Wales as well as supporting over 15,000 jobs.

"There are more than 65,000km of rivers in England and Wales, but the public only has right of access to two per cent of the system, so nearly all of the most beautiful and interesting rivers are not accessible to you."

To sign the petition go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Canoeists/ and respond to the Government email.

For more information visit www.riveraccess.org