EIGHT pollution warnings are in place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, following last night's storm.

The pollution alerts have been issued after storm sewage was discharged from overflows across BCP within the past 48 hours.

This follows a thunderstorm which took place on Sunday night (May 15) and saw nearly 4,000 lightning strikes occur across Dorset.

READ MORE: IN PICTURES: 'Almost 4,000 lightning strikes' in Dorset during dramatic storm

Swimmers, surfers and watersports enthusiasts are being warned to avoid the water at these locations.

The data has been brought to the attention of swimmers courtesy of charity Surfers Against Sewage, which has created an interactive map tracking real-time CSOs (combined sewage overflows) and PRFs (pollution risk forecasts).

The eight locations with pollution alerts are:

Poole Harbour Rockley Sands

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Found well within Poole Harbour, Rockley Sands is a small sand and mud beach with a small harbour and slipway set below a train track and beside a large holiday park. It is very popular for watersports although swimming is limited. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly onto the beach, however, as the beach is located within Poole Harbour, the bathing water may be affected by other overflows from the surrounding area.

Poole Shore Road Beach, Poole

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Located on a long sandy spit jutting out into Poole Harbour, Shore Road Beach is a popular 1km stretch of sand backed by a promenade. Views across Poole Harbour to Brownsea Island and out to sea make it an ideal location for watching the sun set. A sewer overflow discharges through a sea outfall pipe directly in front of the beach.

Bournemouth Pier

Bournemouth Echo:

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Forming part of the 15km stretch of Poole Bay, Bournemouth Pier is a sandy beach resort, about 1km wide, popular with a range of visitors located around Bournemouth Pier. A sewer overflow discharges 550m out to sea via a long sea outfall. The surrounding urban catchment may also affect bathing water quality.

Hengistbury West, Bournemouth

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Located in Poole Bay, Hengistbury West is a shingle and pebble beach forming part of the relatively undeveloped Site of Special Scientific Interest of Hengistbury Head that encircles Christchurch Harbour and separates it from Poole Bay. Rock groynes can be found at intervals along the beach. A sewer overflow discharges through a sea outfall directly into the sea straight in front of the main access point.

Christchurch Avon Beach

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A popular family resort beach located in Christchurch Bay is around 700m wide and is a gently sloping sandy beach. There are no sewer overflows that discharge directly onto the beach here but there are a number in the catchment area that discharge into the Avon and Stour Rivers that may affect bathing water quality particularly after heavy rainfall.

Friars Cliff, Christchurch

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Situated in Christchurch Bay on the Dorset coast, Friars Cliff is a sandy resort beach, ideal for families. It is backed by a promenade that is lined with beach huts available to hire. There are a number of sewer overflows that discharge into the Stour and Avon rivers to the south of this beach that may affect bathing water quality.

Swanage Ulwell Stream

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Flowing from Nine Barrow Down south to Swanage Bay, the Swanage Ulwell Stream is two and a half kilometres long. There is a CSO from the Swanage Shore Road which discharges into the stream 340m from the beach which may affect water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Swanage Central

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A long, sandy, reasonably flat beach, Swanage Central is flanked by chalk headlands and backed by a promenade and the town of Swanage. Three sewer overflows affect bathing water quality here. There is one at the southern end of the beach, one towards the centre and another that discharges into the sea off the headland to the south.