SEWAGE has been released across three beaches in west Dorset following a period of heavy rain.

The Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) charity has reported on its interactive map that storm sewage has been discharged from sewer overflows in the past 48 hours.

Sewage pollutions alerts have been raised for Lyme Regis, Eype and West Bay, as well as several coastal locations in the east of the county.

Storm overflows operate automatically, usually releasing stormwater during or after intense rainfall.

On its map, SAS says that storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in the above locations within the past two days. 

In Lyme Regis, it comes after an idyllic river in the town was declared 'ecologically dead' after the amount of human waste overflowing into it tripled in under a year.

There are currently no alerts for Weymouth and Portland or the Purbecks during the same time period. 

SAS says that it monitors the water quality via the map at more than 450 river and coastal locations 'so you can swim, surf, paddle or splash without the risk of getting sick'.

Charmouth beach has a different alert in place which warns that pollution is forecasted.

"There are no sewer overflows here, but the River Char meets the sea just to the east of the beach and any discharges into this may affect bathing water quality," SAS said.

The area's water supplier, Wessex Water, says that it is 'committed' to reducing overflows and is investing millions to help tackle the problem. 

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Storm overflows operated automatically following heavy rainfall, releasing predominantly rainwater after sewers had become overwhelmed.

“Although overflows are licensed by the Environment Agency to protect properties from flooding, we’re committed to reducing how often they operate and are investing more than £3 million every month on schemes to improve them.”