Bank Holiday chaos as another 19 UK beaches hit by pollution warning

PLANS for a final Bank Holiday by the beach are fast going down the toilet – as Brits could find themselves swimming in sewage.

Raw waste has been unloading into the sea off some of the country’s most popular coastal resorts over the past few weeks. 

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Now there are families hoping to soak up the last of the summer sun are set to shirk the sands because of the foul discharge.

Pollution warnings are currently in place at 19 locations across the UK, according to campaigners Surfers Against Sewage. 

It includes jewels in the English coastline such as family favourite Scarbrough, staycation hotspot Falmouth and Cornish gem Looe.

Shameful scenes of untreated waste gushing into the sea forced several beaches to shut recently due to the serious contamination threat.

Local Cornwall councillor Jayne Kirkham said: “We have absolutely beautiful beaches in Cornwall that are always heaving at this time of year. 

“But since the sewage issue really came to the fore there is a fear people will be massively put off this Bank Holiday, especially as tourism is one of our important industries in this part of the world.”

Surfers Against Sewage chief Hugo Tagholm piled in: “This Bank Holiday, the British public should be swimming, surfing and having fun in the water free of the fear of raw sewage incidents being pumped out by water companies.”

Government sources hoped that less rainfall this week would result in less people bathing in bilge. 

Water firms – whose bosses rake in eye-watering salaries and bonuses – have been told to clean up their act after figures showed raw sewage was pumped into seas and rivers for 2.6million hours last year.

Labour’s shadow tourism minister Jeff Smith blasted: “It’s time for this Conservative government and water company bosses to cut the crap, and protect seaside towns from sewage discharges.

“The August Bank Holiday is a crucial weekend for the tourist trade yet the Tory sewage scandal puts that at risk.”

Senior Tories also demanded offending firms pay a heavy price, with Sussex MP Tim Loughton raging: “Yet again, Southern Water have let us down and they’re gonna have to answer some very tricky questions, and frankly be penalised and be fined at the very least because they’re just not getting their act together sufficiently.”

Southern Water, which last year was fined a record £90million for dumping raw sewage into rivers, was forced into a grovelling apology last week authorities were forced to close beaches contaminated with its waste. 

Conservative leadership frontrunner Liz Truss last night tried to shake off accusations she squeezed the Environment Agency’s Budget as Environment Secretary.

A spokesman for the wannabe PM insisted the cutbacks were part of “a wider drive from central government to find efficiencies”.

They added: “It’s vital we get a grip on pollution in our water and ensure it is clean and safe for all to enjoy. As Prime Minister, Liz will make sure the necessary action is taken to deliver this.”