ACTIVISTS gathered on the beach to protest against sewage discharges in oceans and rivers.

Members of the environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) braved gale force winds and rain to highlight sewage pollution by water companies.

The surfers wore gas masks at the demonstration in Brighton, which was held to coincide with the release of the 2019 Water Quality Report by the campaigning group.

Amy Slack, project manager at SAS, said: “The action in Brighton was to launch the report and highlight the issue of sewage in our seas.

“Southern Water are performing particularly badly, and in locations around Sussex we saw 220 sewage discharges over the bathing season, which is between May and September – so Brighton was an apt place to hold the protest.”

Ms Slack said strong regulation is needed in the Environment Bill as the UK leaves the European Union, as well as investment in infrastructure.

She said: “We need water companies to take responsibility and look at reducing their discharge into the environment.

“The solutions are out there, they just need to be invested in and installed.”

The SAS Water Quality Report states that in 2019 at least ten per cent of days in the summer bathing season were lost due to the impact of the sewage pollution in the UK.

Southern Water was found to be responsible for the most discharges, with 571 cases recorded in total.

In August the company apologised for a sewage spill off the coast of Newhaven after a power failure at a water treatment works in the town.

Responding to the Newhaven spill, a spokesman for Southern Water said: “No pollution is acceptable to our customers or to us and we apologise for this event.”

SAS is calling for year-round, real-time water quality data, as water companies currently only provide information during the bathing season.

They are also demanding a 75 per cent reduction in sewage discharges by 2030, and for stronger water quality legislation and enforcement.

Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of SAS, said: “Damning evidence has emerged this year showing just how prevalent sewage pollution impacts are along our coastline and rivers.

“Water companies must put the health of planet and people before the interests of shareholders.”