Rain 'undermines water quality of British seaside'

As heavy rain washes away Britain's forecast barbecue summer, the water quality of the country's beaches is diminishing as oceans become increasingly polluted.

Figures released by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) indicate 43 per cent of beaches tested present swimmers with at least a one in 20 chance of getting gastroenteritis after a swim.

The news of poor water quality will be particularly worrying for those Britons who stayed at home this summer, foregoing a trip abroad for the so called 'staycation'.

Thomas Bell, who edits the MCS's Good Beach Guide, commented that some combined sewage overflow pipes are discharging constantly as a result of the heavy rainfall - in some cases as often as hundreds of times a year.

He added: "It's more than possible that we've built ourselves a system in this country where they’re being used as a means of regular sewage disposal."

From September 19th to 20th, the MCS is running its annual Beachwatch Big Weekend, which will see volunteers from across the country take time out to clean up British beaches.

Written by Claire Manning