Bathing water testing lab on the way, says council

Swimmers volunteering to take water samples could soon have a closer testing lab

Details are "currently being finalised" for a new facility for testing seawater off the West Sussex coast, a council has said.

Swimmers in Worthing who currently volunteer to take samples deliver them for quality testing at an existing facility in Hove, according to Worthing Borough Council.

The local authority said it expects Southern Water to back a new testing lab at Splashpoint Leisure Centre, opposite a designated bathing site.

Southern Water has been contacted for comment.

The water firm currently funds equipment used to collect samples and the lab in Hove, the council said.

It added that the Environment Agency takes weekly samples for bacteria testing at the site.

Worthing's cabinet member for environmental services, Vicki Wells, said the prospective water quality monitoring facility would "help pinpoint pollution hotspots to improve our marine environment".