Warning against swimming after sewage spill

Swimmers are being urged to avoid using a beach in Kent due to "pollution from sewage".

The alert at Sandgate Beach, near Folkestone, is expected to last until 24 May, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Sandgate and West Folkestone ward councillor Tim Prater said a drain near The Sandgate Hotel "seems to be discharging sewage onto the beach".

But Southern Water said a damaged sewer pipe caused the spill, and the discharge had "not affected bathing water quality."

"The discharge from the surface water outfall has not entered the sea," it said.

The water company added that the incident was reported on Wednesday and it immediately sent teams to the Esplanade.

It has since "introduced a series of measures to protect the local environment, including tankers to control flows through the area".

Councillor Prater says the anti-swimming advisory could be lifted sooner than forecast.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council confirmed the EA and Southern Water were "working to fix" the sewage leak and that signage was being installed at the site.

The EA's most recent water quality classification for Sandgate was "excellent", based on samples it took between 2021 and 2024.

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