A ‘no bathing warning’ has been issued for a town’s beach after reports of a sewage discharge.

The main beach in Herne Bay is on alert for for pollution this Bank Holiday due to an overflow spotted within the last 48 hours.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) put the warning out as the Enviroment Agency today confirmed the dump had been carried out from a nearby treatment centre by Southern Water.

The SAS charity fights for cleaner seas, tracks real-time sewage discharge and pollution risks around the UK and published the warning on its website which is active for today.

Residents in the town noticed seeing an outflow in the sea off Herne Bay on Saturday.

People took to social media complaining about the timing given a lack of recent rainfall and the warm Bank Holiday weather and beachgoers heading to the water.

SAS referred to the issues along the area known as Herne Bay Central which covers the town’s seafront.

The beach has two sewage overflows that end in the area, one 600m offshore while the other is inland and drops into a stream at the eastern end of the bathing water.

Herne Bay beach further along the coast has not been issued with the same warning.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We were notified by Southern Water of a sewage discharge on Friday morning from its Swalecliffe water treatment works.

“We are currently assessing any action to be taken.

“Anyone who suspects pollution in our rivers and seas can call our free 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”

Southern Water has been asked for more information.

Another alert is also still in effect for St Mary’s Bay in Dymchurch after heightened traces of pollution were found in the water earlier this year.

The Environment Agency discovered levels of intestinal enterococci, found in faecal matter and as a result signs advising visitors not to swim are in place for the 2023 bathing season.