Sewage plant alert for swimmers at popular beach

Beachgoers have been warned to stay out of the sea at one of Devon's most popular beaches.

Warning signs about a sewage discharge have been placed around Bigbury on Sea and nearby Challaborough.

"Bathing is not advised, due to pollution from sewage," said the Environment Agency (EA) on its website.

South West Water said it was "final effluent" or treated water from its sewage treatment works.

"Due to a leak in the pipe, this is discharging down the cliff and not from the designated discharge point out at sea," it said.

"We have a team on site working to stop the flows and carry out a fix as quickly as we can."

A Bigbury Parish Council spokesperson said: "The warning signs to avoid the sea are a justifiable precautionary measure, if somewhat alarming for beach users with children."

Warning signs were placed around the approaches to the western beach facing Burgh Island and at Sedgewell on the east of the beach.

According to the EA's website the signs were placed around the beach at 18:29 BST on Wednesday and the incident was "currently expected to end" on Thursday.

The quality of the seawater at Bigbury on Sea was classed as "excellent" overall in 2022 by the EA.

The EA said it and South West Water had been alerted about the leaking pipe at 16:30 BST.

"This effluent, while treated, is intended for discharge at a permitted outfall further out to sea and away from the bathing water area, where it would become further diluted," said a spokesperson.

"As a precaution, we have issued advice against swimming in the area and nearby bathing waters, including at Bigbury North, Bigbury South, Bantham and Challaborough as they are linked, while South West Water fixes the problem.

"In the meantime, sewage is being tankered away."

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