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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
World
Alice Suffield & Louisa Gregson

Beachgoers told to avoid swimming after sewage and pollution alerts issued

People are being warned of a pollution risk at a popular sea-side after sewage was discharged on beaches - and told to avoid going for a swim.

The Environment Agency has advised against bathing at Blackpool North, South and Central - saying "bathing is not advised today", adding that there is a "pollution risk warning" in place for the three areas.

Environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has also collected data that suggests there have been storm sewage discharges within the last 48 hours in six locations across Lancashire and Cumbria reports Lancashire Live.

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The data suggests that St Annes, St Annes North, Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, as well as Walney Biggar Bank, Walney Sandy Gap and Walney West Shore in Cumbria have all had storm sewage discharged from a sewer overflow within the past 48 hours.

There are currently 28 pollution warnings in place throughout the UK.

Earlier last month, extreme concerns were raised after Morecambe Bay described as 'disturbingly poopy'. Many people were quick to respond that they had seen "lots of brown foam" as well as "human and dog poo" floating passed them.

At the time, United Utilities denied they had released any raw sewage into the bay. However, they did say that sometimes in the summer there can be a type of marine algae that looks brown and frothy which people have been known to mistake for excrement.

Not long after, a beach-goer spotted a tide line of faeces that was "at least a mile long". Again United Utilities said: "We’d like it making clear that this is not human excrement and hasn’t come from our operations."

The Environment Agency have previously said: "Showers and intense rainfall increase the likelihood of overflows from sewage systems into the sea and rivers. If any members of the public suspect pollution we would ask them to report this to our pollution hotline on 0800 807060."

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