Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey has said sewage spills in west Dorset are a "scandal" as he called on water companies to do more to prevent pollution.
Sir Ed visited West Bay Beach on Thursday, where he met Surfers Against Sewage CEO Giles Bristow and spoke about the issue.
Sir Ed said sewage spills were a "national scandal".
His visit to west Dorset came as sewage spills were reported from West Bay Beach on the same day.
Sir Ed added: “We saw yesterday that sewage spills have doubled in the last year, including here in west Dorset, that is a national scandal.
“Our ecosystems are on the brink of collapse.
“I think people are pretty angry about it, we need more action.
“Giles Bristow and his team have done loads of brilliant work.
“It can’t be stopped overnight, but with a concerted programme of investment, we could make quite big differences relatively quickly.
“To get it so it never happens will take a little bit longer but smart investment over the next five years could make a big difference."
Asked whether he would be in favour of nationalising the water companies, Sir Ed said it "was not off the table", but said the Lib Dems would look at a model to make the companies become "public interest corporations."
Edward Morello, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for West Dorset, said: "It is wonderful to have Ed here, it is a sign of how important this area is to the Liberal Democrats.
"2023 has been a horrible year for sewage in west Dorset.
"We have had over 3,800 sewage spillages over the course of the year, nearly double on the year above."
Sir Ed also visited Washingpool Farm in Bridport to learn about the 'Discover Farming' programme run by the Melplash Agricultural Society.
He spoke to George and Pippa Streatfield about the initiative, which works with schools to educate young people about farming.
Sir Ed had a tour of the farm and visited the farm shop.
He said he was very familiar with Dorset - recalling courting his now-wife Emily in the county in which his mother-in-law still lives.
He said: "A lot of people drive through Dorset to go to Devon or Cornwall and they don't realise they are passing through this most amazing county."
He added: "My mother-in-law lives in Shillingstone near Blandford.
"My wife ran for parliament for three times in North Dorset so I know the county very well.
"The county is just beautiful, we often walk the hills in north Dorset.
"When I first courted my wife, we used to walk over those hills and to the hillforts, the romantic part.
"The Jurassic Coast is beautiful, it is world-beating."
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