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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

Brits warned not so swim in 50 beaches across UK as heavy rainfall sparks sewage fears

Brits have been warned not so swim in 50 UK beaches after heavy rainfall sparked sewage fears.

More than 50 beaches across the south of England have a sewage contamination warning after storms dumped a month's worth of rain in some parts of the UK yesterday.

The heavy rain means some sewage pipes along coastlines could overflow, spouting harmful waste into the sea.

According to Surfers Against Sewage, beach goers are being warned to avoid entering the water especially at

  • Herne Bay
  • Bognor Regis
  • Bournemouth
  • Weston-super-mare

They said "Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours."

The majority of the beaches are around Portsmouth and on the Isle of Wight, but you can view the full list here.

The heavy rain means some sewage pipes along coastlines could overflow, spouting harmful waste into the sea (Getty Images)

Surfers Against Sewage publishes the shocking interactive map which tracks real-time sewage overflows and pollution risk forecasts.

It monitors the water quality at over 400 locations around UK rivers and coastlines.

The waste warnings come after thunderstorms battered Dorset overnight with a band of heavy rain throughout the weekend.

A yellow warning has also been put in place for thunder for much of southern and eastern England, including Bath, Brighton, Norwich and London, until 2am today.

A warning on the Met Office's website stated: "There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds."

A yellow warning has also been put in place for thunder for much of southern and eastern England, including Bath, Brighton, Norwich and London, until 2am today (AFP via Getty Images)

The warning added that transport could also be affected, including potential road closures and train cancellations.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill warned that England still has some heavy thunderstorms to come this weekend.

"We still have some heavy thunderstorms to come as you go through the next 15 hours or so," he said.

He added that storms could lead to 20 to 30mm of rainfall in one hour, causing flash flooding.

He said: "It is because of the risk of some heavy thunderstorms coming through, talk of 20 to 30 millimetres perhaps in just an hour, and for some 40 to 60 (millimetres) in two to three hours.

"So, whilst the totals won't be that high, we're talking flash flooding, surface water flooding, just because of intense rates in a short period of time."

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