Urgent health warning issued at 54 UK beaches… is your nearest on the list?
AN URGENT health warning has been issued at 54 beaches across the UK.
Sewage pollution could put thousands of beachgoers at risk on England's southwest coast in the coming days.
It comes as much of the country was battered by heavy rain in recent days.
According to Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) the weather has caused a "storm sewage" overload.
Up to 33 Cornish beaches are now on "sewage pollution alert".
There is also reportedly a "pollution risk forecast" for 21 other locations.
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The alarming figures mean about 80 per cent of beaches in the region are currently polluted.
In a statement, an SAS spokesman said: "Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours."
Beaches on both the south and north side of Cornwall have been impacted.
Hotspots such as Looe, Falmouth and Penzance are all reportedly affected.
Main factors contributing to polluted beaches is urban runoff.
As a result, nasty substances such as fertilisers, pesticides, oil and untreated human and animal waste can enter waterways.
And with these harmful contaminants largely remaining on the sea's surface it can make it dangerous to enter the water.
Experts at Surf Today advised waiting at least 72 hours before entering the sea again after it rains.
They claimed the water could still potentially be contaminated with fecal matter, which can lead to illnesses if swallowed.
Related symptoms could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.
Beaches marked as pollution risks:
- Kingsand
- Cawsand
- Portwrinkle
- Downderry
- Seaton
- Millendreath
- East Looe
- Readymoney Cove
- Polkerris
- Par Sands
- Shorthorn Beach
- Charlestown
- Duporth
- Porthpean Beach
- Pentewan
- Portmellon
- Gorran Haven Little Perhaver
- Porthluney
- Pendower
- Porthcurnick
- Gyllyngvase
- Swanpool
- Maenporth
- Porthallow
- Porthoustock
- Coverack
- Kennack Sands
- Polurrian Cove
- Poldhu Cove
- Perranuthnoe
- Marazion
- Long Rock
- Penzance
- Wherry Town
- Porthgwidden
- Porthkidney
- Gwithian Towans
- Godrevy Towans
- Portreath
- Trevaunance Cove
- Perranporth
- Crantock
- Fistral South
- Fistral North
- Porth
- Mawgan Porth
- Porthcothan
- Harlyn Bay
- Trevone Bay
- Polzeath
- Trebarwith Strand
- Crackington Haven
- Summerleaze
- Crooklets
Meanwhile, more rain is forecasted over the coming days in parts of the UK.
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A thunderstorm yellow warning is in place for Scotland and northern England, while there is also an alert for high winds across the south of England.
A Met Office weather forecast reads: "Locally heavy rain will move northeast from southwest England accompanied by strong to gale force winds. Showers following from the southwest later. Feeling rather cool for most."