Pollution at a Sussex beauty spot has now got so bad that an emergency meeting is being held to find a solution.

Raw sewage is spewing into Chichester Harbour, a protected area of outstanding natural beauty, from Southern Water treatment works.

It has already led to sailing clubs cancelling races after warnings from the harbour master that humans are at risk of serious illness if they come into contact with the sewage.

Now representatives from Southern Water, Chichester Harbour, the Environment Agency, Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council plan to meet at the end of the month to try and end the discharges.

County councillor Louise Goldsmith said: "The meeting will be a good chance for representatives to gather round a table and discuss all issues fully, with everyone working together I hope that we will find some solutions.

"The meeting will explore why the sewage discharge is happening and how it can be prevented and will hopefully take place at the end of May or in early June.

Chichester Harbour master John Davis, has already criticised the discharges, which can last for weeks and are said to also pose a danger to the harbour's diverse collection of wildlife.

He said: "The conservancy is concerned and disappointed that there is an ongoing requirement to discharge raw sewage that has only received primary treatment into the harbour during storm water events and when ground water levels are high.

"These discharges can pose a health risk to people of all ages who come into close contact with the water and sediment.

"The discharge of nitrates and phosphates into the harbour also damages the internationally important nature conservation interests of the harbour."

Both the conservancy and county council said they are worried that the situation will only get worse if new homes, planned for nearby Stockbridge, are built.

Mr Davis added: "In the long term, the conservancy would wish to see all sewage discharges into the harbour stopped and in the medium term, sewage and storm water drains should be separated."

It is the second pollution issue West Sussex County Council has agreed to investigate in recent weeks.

It said it will look into finding an alternative to raw sewage being dumped into the sea at Shoreham.

Houseboat residents are pumping the material into the water, according to Adur District Council, which called for the action.

A county council spokeswoman said: "We would welcome working with other agencies to examine the problem in more detail and see what solutions are possible."