Environmentalist becomes first juror to swear oath on river water

Paul Powlesland swore his devotion to nature before a London crown court. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

When jurors are called to court, they are required to swear on a holy book or make a secular promise to tell the truth.

So court officials were perplexed when the environmental activist and barrister Paul Powlesland was called for jury service and produced a vial of river water and asked to swear on the River Roding.