Swimmers' delight over Broadchurch beach campaign

A group of sea swimmers has expressed "delight" over its successful campaign for a new designated bathing water site.

East Beach at West Bay, Dorset - a filming location for the ITV series Broadchurch - is one of 13 new swimming spots that have been officially recognised by the government.

It means water quality will be regularly tested during the bathing season, which runs from 15 May to 30 September.

West Bay Swimmers Action Group, founded by campaigner Jane Powell in 2024, said the award could help to reduce pollution in future.

Spokeswoman Debbie Legge said: "We are all very excited that the hard work has resulted in this popular bathing water being designated.

"I don't put my head in the water but some people do. There's been concern about people getting ear infections.

"The pressure is now on Wessex Water and the Environment Agency to find a solution to our pollution problems."

Wessex Water, Dorset Council and landowners supported the group's application for designated bathing water status.

Previously, the award was granted to West Beach. However, the group said recent alterations to a sewage outfall and pier had made East Beach more popular.

In April, the group reported that water quality at West Bay was "excellent" according to its own tests.

It has previously expressed concern about discharges from pumping stations on the River Brit.

More than 460 sea and inland bathing water sites have so far been officially designated in England.

Weekly water quality test results are published online during the bathing season by the Environment Agency.