Joss Bay - one of the beaches affected by sewage

Thanet's beaches are back open for business after sewage spills earlier made them unsafe for swimmers.

Blue Flags are once again being raised after the ban on bathing first placed more than a week ago was lifted today.

It follows assurances from Southern Water about the operation of its sewage pumping station at Foreness Point.

Results from Environment Agency tests also confirm water quality has now returned to safe levels.

Warning signs will now be removed and replaced with ones advising beach users the ban has been lifted and to contact Southern Water on 0845 2780845 to report any further incidents.

Thanet council cleansing teams will continue to monitor the coastline, along with Southern Water, to ensure the bays are kept clean of any further debris.

The council’s director of operations, Mark Seed, said: “The lifting on of the bathing ban is excellent news, and I’m pleased that we’ve made such rapid progress this week.

“As an area that thrives on tourism, preventing people from swimming in the sea off our coast is something we would rather avoid.

"However we have a duty of care to members of the public, and couldn’t lift the bathing ban until we received assurances from the Environment Agency and Southern Water.

“Naturally, we’ll continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, but we feel confident that this matter is drawing to a positive conclusion."

But for some, the ban lifting has come not a moment too soon. A spokesman for Joss Bay Surf School tweeted at around 1pm it was starting its first lessons again in half an hour!