Protestors express anger over poor water quality

Ruth FitzJohn said she was really angry at South West Water

Protestors in Cornwall said they were really angry at the poor water quality of beaches around the county.

On Wednesday, South West Water (SWW) spoke with residents in St Agnes at a community engagement event.

Speaking at the meeting, Ruth FitzJohn said: "We are really angry at this failing water company," before adding: "Our communities are suffering and our businesses that rely on the beaches are suffering."

A spokesperson for SWW said: "We care deeply about our 860 metres of coastline and our region’s 100% bathing water quality, which we have successfully maintained for three consecutive years."

Ms FitzJohn claimed: "For 171 days out of 173 from the beginning of November there were sewage alerts on Portreath Beach.

"That is six solid months of poo flowing out on to the seas by the beach at Portreath."

Jess Feldon said investment from SWW was "coming too late"

Discussing the SWW event in St Agnes, Jess Feldon said: "They are talking about investment and no one is denying they are investing but a lot of this is coming too late.

"We are just really fed up with the owners of South West Water taking priority, it should be about customers and it should be about our water quality."

SWW said the opinions of its customers mattered "greatly" and it was listening

A statement from SWW said the opinions of customers mattered to the company and it was listening to them.

The company said: "We know we have more to do and we are serious about tackling storm overflows.

"Change of this scale takes time, ambition, and increased investment – that is why we are investing £2.8bn in our region."

It also said it would "continue to protect the environment now and into the future".