SEWAGE has been discharged at beaches across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the past 48 hours.

An interactive map by campaign group Surfers Against Sewage shows storm sewage has been discharged at Bournemouth Pier, Boscombe Pier, Bournemouth Manor Steps, Branksome Chine Beach, Hengistbury Head, Friars Cliff and Avon Beach.

All locations have been flagged as a potential pollution risk, and have had a sewer overflow within the past 48 hours.

Wessex Water has said that storm overflowers “automatically operated” in the BCP area following intense rainfall this week.

A spokesperson for the water company said: “Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency and operate automatically, releasing mostly stormwater during or after intense rainfall to prevent flooding in people’s homes.

Read more: Which Dorset beaches saw sewage discharges in past 24 hours

“Wessex Water is the only UK water and sewerage company to provide overflow discharge alerts 365 days a year, with complete coverage of all bathing waters in our area, and we notify Surfers Against Sewage ourselves.

“Every month we’re investing £3 million on storm overflows, starting with those that discharge most frequently or have any environmental impact.”

The conurbation’s beaches also faced overflows after heavy rainfall mid-August.

On August 17, the Wessex Water website confirmed sewage had been discharged at West Bay, Eypemouth, Swanage, Hengistbury Head, Avon Beach and Friars Cliff in Christchurch.