Swimmers warned to avoid sea due to sewage leak
BBCUntreated sewage has been discharged into the River Tees and swimmers have been warned to avoid bathing nearby after a main pipe burst.
The sewer at Smith's Dock Road in Middlesbrough was damaged on Friday and has discharged waste affecting beaches in Hartlepool, Redcar, Saltburn and Marske.
Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said he was "extremely disappointed" that residents had been advised not to bathe in the area.
Northumbrian Water said due to the damage "sewage in the system has backed up, and we have needed to carry out very controlled, heavily diluted discharges through our storm overflow in Redcar".
A spokesperson said: "On Friday evening, (26 June) we were made aware of a burst on our Cargo Fleet sewage main near Dockside Road in Middlesbrough.
"There is potential that this was caused by a third party, but our teams are working around the clock to find a solution and carry out repairs.
"Our teams will continue to work hard on site, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency as well as the local authorities and landowners, in order to resolve this as quickly as possible."
Northumbrian Water teams are carrying out regular sampling, environmental monitoring and are on site cleaning the beach.
Brown said: "Our coastline is one of Redcar and Cleveland's greatest assets, and people rightly expect to be able to enjoy it safely, particularly during the summer months.
"This situation is simply not acceptable."
The Labour council leader said the advice not to swim must "be taken seriously" and urged people to stay out of the water until it is confirmed to be safe.
Call for 'clarity'
The EA advised against bathing at Seaton Carew North, Seaton Carew Centre, Seaton Carew North Gare, Redcar Coatham, Redcar Lifeboat Station, Redcar Granville, Redcar Stray, Marske Sands and Saltburn.
An EA spokesperson said its officers were taking independent sampling and inspections at the site.
Coatham ward Labour councillor Carl Quartermain said it was essential that residents get "full clarity" about what has happened.
"Residents are rightly concerned following the recent sewage discharge incident affecting bathing waters across the Tees coastline," he said.
"We need to know how much untreated sewage has entered the system, and what the environmental impact has been."
