Hundreds of so-called “poop tomatoes” have been discovered on the coast – as environmental activists claim the plants have sprouted from seeds in human excrement.

Nik Mitchell, of Wildlife Conservation in Thanet, discovered the fruit growing along the seafront in Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate.

Nik Mitchell shares his theory on the presence of 'poop tomatoes'

The campaigner has attributed the presence of the bumper crop to recent sewage releases – but Southern Water insists it is because tomato seeds are able to survive the wastewater treatment process.

“There were hundreds of them. I’m 100% certain it’s from the sewage,” Mr Mitchell said.

“I’ve put two and two together because I’ve spent a lot of time at sewage treatment works birdwatching and I always notice tomatoes growing. I’m at Pegwell Bay a lot to litter pick, and I’ve never noticed them before.

“The largest contributor to the litter in the bay is fishing products, but secondary to that is sanitary products, like earbuds, sanitary towels, tampon applicators and plasters – that’s because people are flushing them down the toilet.”

This comes after the Environment Agency confirmed last month it has launched an investigation into Southern Water over a spillage on Thanet shores over the summer.

A lightning strike in June caused a power failure at the company’s Foreness pumping station, causing raw sewage to be dumped into the sea.

It resulted in the closure of 11 beaches between Margate and Broadstairs, with the district council receiving £100,000 from Southern Water in compensation.

In a video recorded by Mr Mitchell documenting the discovery, he picked and ate one of the ripe tomatoes – which he says was “delicious”.

“When I went home and looked online, I found ‘poop tomato’ is a coined term,” he added.

“To have reached fruit, they must have been a couple of months’ old."

Southern Water was slapped with a record £90 million fine in July after unleashing up to 21 billion litres of sewage into protected water between 2010 and 2015.

And just last month a power outage at the under-fire firm’s pumping station in Broadstairs saw “unscreened wastewater” flow into the sea.

Where Mr Mitchell found the plants is close to sewage outfalls in Ramsgate, Cliffsend and Sandwich Bay.

Southern Water, which is allowed to pump treated effluent into the sea, stresses tomatoes have been seen near such sites across the country for a number of years.

A spokesman said: “Tomatoes evolved to spread by being eaten by birds and animals and the very resilient seeds not only survive passage through digestive systems but the through wastewater treatment processes.

“Tomatoes have been spotted near outfalls around the country for many years and are now self-seeding – many generations have sprung up fruited and then regrown from the seeds.”

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