Swimmers have been advised not to go into the water after a sewage leak off the Kent coast.

There are various warnings across three beaches in the north of the county after reported rain sewage discharges.

Anyone visiting Herne Bay and Herne Bay Central beaches are being advised against swimming in the sea by the Environment Agency.

The Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the water quality was likely to have been reduced following a sewage leak.

The warning was brought in at 8.30am today.

Environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage also advised bathers not to swim in the sea on the two beaches.

It also issued a similar warning for Sheerness beach, and while Defra has not done so Southern Water have confirmed there has been a discharge "within the last 72 hours".

The company's 'beachbuoy' monitoring site, which alerts users to sewage releases, said the "overflow release" ended at noon yesterday.

Defra and Southern Water have been contacted for comment.