Sewage puts beach off limits for wheelchair group

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs has helped more than 1,600 people access the beach

Wheelchair users have said raw sewage being released into the sea has made a popular beach a no-go area for them.

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs said United Utilities' discharges made it "unsafe" for them to operate.

The group's chair of trustees, Michael Gray, said it "cannot take the risk" that clients with weakened immune systems are "subject to effluence".

United Utilities said due to the sustained rain over the last few days, a number of storm overflows in the Fylde coast have been in use to prevent homes and businesses being flooded.

Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs, which received the King's Award for Voluntary Service last year, has taken more than 1,600 people on the beach.

The charity uses a fleet of chairs specially designed to be light and easy to manoeuvre on the sand and shingle, up to and into shallow water.

'Risks'

Mr Gray told BBC Radio Lancashire: "If we have got a discharge of sewage we close.

"We cannot take the risk. We risk assess most of the stuff we do.

"One of those risks is the complicated things that could happen if someone has a weakened immune system is subject to effluence."

He said: "A lot of our clients have weakened immune systems and although it is beautiful to get down on to the beach and into the sea it is not good for them."

United Utilities said it was committed to driving down the number of times storm overflows operate.

There was a 38% reduction in spill duration across Lancashire last year, with the number of spills from storm overflows falling by 20%.

The water firm has previously said it was investing £94.5m into 12 projects across Fylde and Wyre over the next five years.