Burst sewer main close to protected site

A sewage pipe has burst in "close proximity" to a protected wildlife area.

Southern Water said the leak was near Passage Lane car park in Warsash, Hampshire, which is near a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The burst pipe is also close to a designated bathing spot - although the Environment Agency (EA) said there was currently "no indication" bathing water had been affected.

The leak was reported on Saturday, and on Sunday the company said it had been stopped and they were taking "mitigation actions to protect the environment".

One local resident told the BBC the smell was "horrible".

The spokesperson for Southern Water said the leak was also close to shellfish waters linked to the River Hamble, and that they had notified Natural England and the Environment Agency as soon as they became aware of it.

"We are taking a number of mitigation actions to protect the environment," the spokesperson said.

"These include having environmental specialists taking samples and using a fleet of tankers to remove sewage from the system and the use of barriers to stop further overland flows."

An EA spokesperson said they were liaising with Southern Water "to ensure a repair is carried out as soon as possible".

"Our investigation is ongoing," the spokesperson added.

"At present, there is no indication that designated bathing water has been affected."

Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes said he would be "chasing to see what environmental steps are being taken urgently and what the cause was".

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.