A £10m scheme to improve the sewage treatment serving a key tourist resort has been unveiled.

The Yorkshire Water scheme in Whitby follows a £400,000 project by the firm last year to repair sewers damaged by sea water and incidents over the last decade where raw sewage spilt into the harbour, leading to complaints from residents and visitors.

The firm said large parts of its treatment works, including the inlet works and the sludge treatment plant, would be replaced.

Yorkshire Water bosses said its inlet works, serving a population of nearly 18,000, which rises to 21,000 in the tourist season, where debris, such as rags, sticks, plastic, cans and bricks are removed, was nearing the end of its life and needed increasing in size and modernising.

Sewage is pumped up to the works from Endeavour Wharfe pumping station in the centre of town.

Mark Hewison, Yorkshire Water project manager said: "During February the site will be prepared for the construction phase.

"Our contractors will be felling a number of trees to allow enough space for safe access to the working areas during construction.

“All the trees will be replaced when the project is complete. We’ll communicate with the local community well before the construction phase of the project is due to start during at the end of summer this year.”

For more information please contact den.tansey@yorkshirewater.co.uk or call 01274-692653.