Beaches across the North East have seen pollution warnings put in place after raw sewage was dumped in the sea, including at some popular bathing spots.

Storm sewage has been discharged from some sewer overflows across the region in the past 24 hours after bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms hit on Tuesday (September 6).

It comes after a huge political row broke out last month after claims were made that the government had voted to dump sewage in our shores.

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The sewage map, run by Surfers Against Sewage, shows warnings in place at beaches across the region.

There are currently 17 North East beaches with pollution warnings in place

Why are pollution warnings put in place?

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency told The Northern Echo: “There are a number of factors that can influence the quality of bathing waters. These include wind, sunlight, rain and tide and can lead to short term pollution arising as bacteria is washed into the sea.

“Sources of the bacteria can include water draining from agricultural and urban land during periods of heavy rain, as we have seen over the last couple of days.

“Short term pollution cases are where we expect the pollution to last for no more than 72 hours and we use the Pollution Risk Forecasting system to give out information when this will happen and to advise against bathing.”

Where are pollution warnings currently in place?

Northumberland

Spittal Beach, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Spittal is a gently sloping sandy beach about 1km long, situated immediately south of the mouth of the River Tweed. It is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Within the catchment, there are a number of sewer overflows that discharge into the River Tweed.

Warkworth

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Warkworth is a large, sandy, gently sloping, remote beach backed by an extensive sand dune system. The mouth of the River Coquet and seaside town of Amble lie just to the south of the beach while the historic town of Warkworth with its medieval castle, hermitage and church is also nearby.

There are no sewer overflows discharging directly at Warkworth but there are in the immediate area surrounding the beach which may affect water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

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Amble Links

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Located south of Amble Harbour, Amble Links is a 1km stretch of rocks, sand and shingle sloping gradually into the sea. The beach is backed by cliffs and has views across the water to Coquet Island, an RSPB reserve famous for its puffin colony. There are no sewer overflows directly at this beach but the River Coquet meets the sea just north of the beach and there are sewer overflows that discharge into it.

Blyth South Beach

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Blyth South Beach is a gently sloping sandy resort beach at the southern end of the Northumberland coast.There are two sewer overflows at the northern end of the bay.

North Tyneside

Cullercoats

Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.

Tynemouth Cullercoats is a resort beach enclosed by piers at each end making a very sheltered bay. Although there are no sewer overflows discharging directly at Tynemouth Cullercoats, a large number discharge into the River Tyne which meets the sea just to the south of the bathing water.

Northumbrian Water have previously explained that Cullercoats has a year-round warning in place.

A spokesperson said: “For many years we have worked alongside the Environment Agency and North Tyneside Council, into the reasons behind the water issues at Cullercoats.

"These have shown no evidence of our assets being a primary cause for the deterioration in bathing water quality. Contaminated groundwater is likely to be that primary cause.”

South Tyneside

Marsden

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Marsden is set in an enclosed bay surrounded by high, steep cliffs. It is a sand and rock beach that slopes gently to the sea with rocky outcrops exposed at low tide. Although no sewer overflows discharge directly onto the beach here, the mouth of the River Tyne is just to the north and a number of sewer overflows discharge into it.

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County Durham

Seaham Beach

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Located at the southern end of a two kilometres long bay and backed by a promenade, Seaham Beach is not directly affected by sewer overflows but there are a a few which discharge into local streams and can temporarily affect bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Seaham Hall Beach

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Seaham Hall Beach is located north of Seaham Beach and is at the centre of a two kilometres long bay accessible mainly via stairs. Above the beach is Seaham Hall where Lord Byron married heiress Anne Milebanke in 1815. There are a number of sewage overflows which discharge into local streams, affecting water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Crimdon

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Crimdon Beach is a gently sloping sandy remote beach backed by sand dunes and a nature reserve. There are no sewer overflows discharging close to Crimdon beach but there are some on the sewerage system to the north.

Teesside

Seaton Carew North Beach

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Seaton Carew is a small resort on Tees Bay to the south of Hartlepool. Seaton Carew North is the northern end of an extensive sandy beach fronting the town. There is a sewer overflow directly on the beach at Seaton Carew North. Stream and river sewer overflow discharges may also have an affect on bathing water quality here, especially after heavy rainfall.

Seaton Carew Centre

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Seaton Carew is a small resort on Tees Bay to the south of Hartlepool. Seaton Carew Centre Beach is part of an extensive sandy beach fronting the southern end of the town. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly onto the beach here, however there are a number in the surrounding area which may affect water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Redcar Coatham Beach

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Redcar Coatham is the northernmost of four designated bathing beaches fronting the seaside town of Redcar. It is a wide, gently-sloping sandy beach at the southern end of Coatham Sands, which lie immediately south of the mouth of the River Tees. There are a number of sewer overflows close to this bathing water. These were the subject of an improvement scheme in 2006 designed to minimise their impact on bathing waters.

Redcar

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A busy resort beach and an ideal location for kitesurfing and windsurfing. This is a sandy beach with some rocky areas situated close to the town where a wide range of shops, restaurants and pubs can be found. There are a number of sewer overflows close to this bathing water which can affect water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Marske Sands

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A sandy stretch of beach set between the seaside resorts of Saltburn and Redcar on the north east coast. Marske-By-The-Sea also has historical significance for the part it played in a number of battles over the centuries. A number of sewer overflows discharge into the sea here with two discharging behind the beach and one directly onto the beach.

North Yorkshire

Sandsend

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

A long, rural beach of sand and shingle, the skeletons of old wooden groynes litter the beach. A reef is located at the northern end while cliffs rife with fossils back the beach. A sewer overflow discharges just north of the beach.

Whitby

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

The home of Captain James Cook, Whitby is a large, sandy, gently sloping beach resort. The harbour lies to the east of the beach which increases in size at low tide. A sewer overflow discharges onto the centre of the beach here while other overflows into the River Esk may also affect water quality.

Robin Hoods Bay

Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.

Robin Hoods Bay is a large, picturesque bay. It is a predominantly rocky reef but has some sandy areas. The designated bathing water beach is approximately 200m across and is enclosed by rocky outcrops that become exposed at low tide. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly into the bathing water, however there is one located 200m to the north and another that discharges into Kings Beck.

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