'We can reassure them that the water is good'

Cullercoats Bay is a popular location for beachgoers and swimmers, but according to the government's website bathing is not advised.

Between May and September, the Environment Agency takes water samples which are then tested to help the public make informed decisions about where to swim.

The most recent classification for the North Tyneside bay is poor, external, based on samples taken from 2019 through to 2023.

But people who live in the area argue the water is only bad after extreme weather - and it is about "being aware" when the water is "very, very murky".

Jim Heslop from the Environment Agency, said: "We don't know the exact source of the pollution at the moment, but investigations show that pools at the top of of the beach that are fed by ground water, have consistently got high levels of bacteria in, and it's these that we believe are resulting in the bathing water failure."

Video produced by Jonathan Swingler.

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