Advice against bathing at nine beaches lifted

The advice has been lifted at nine beaches in Thanet but still remains in place at five others

Advice against bathing at nine beaches in Thanet has been lifted, the local council has confirmed.

Thanet District Council temporarily put restrictions in place due to a notification from Southern Water that "storm wastewater was discharged into the sea" as a result of the heavy rain overnight on 18 July.

Storm wastewater is a combination of sewage and surface water. The council added that following on from the recent dry weather, pollution was also possible from surface water runoff.

Beach users were advised to stay out of the water during this time.

The nine beaches where restrictions have been lifted are: West Bay, St Mildred's Bay, Westbrook Bay, Margate Main Sands, Walpole Bay, Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Joss Bay and Ramsgate Western Undercliff.

The authority said that due to a further discharge by Southern Water on Saturday, the advice not to bath at five beaches on the East Kent coast remains in place.

The affected beaches are: Stone Bay, Viking Bay, Louisa Bay, Dumpton Gap and Ramsgate Main Sands.

The district council said it was in contact with the Environment Agency and Southern Water to establish further updates.

Warning signs are in place at affected beaches and it is hoped restrictions can be lifted "as soon as possible", it added..