People have been warned to steer clear of seven Sussex beaches.

Swimming charity Surfers Against Sewage have put pollution risk warnings in place up and down the county’s coastline.

The red alerts mean storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in the alert location within the past 48 hours.

Heavy rainfall results in waste water being discharged into the sea.

The locations with an alert are:

  • St Leonards
  • Bexhill
  • Littlehampton
  • Felpham
  • Bognor Regis East
  • Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
  • Pagham

Only hours earlier Brigthon Kemptown, Brighton Central and Hove Lawn also had alerts in place.

Southern Water has been contacted for comment.

Earlier this month protestors wearing hazmat suits and gas marks poured fake sewage down the steps of the water company's headquarters.

Activists from Extinction Rebellion dressed up and unfurled banners reading “cut the crap” as part a campaign which involved delivering a letter to Southern Water.

The protest comes after protesters demanded Southern Water stops “illegally pouring sewage into waterways”.

A Southern Water spokesman said: “Heavy rainfall puts extra pressure on our sewer network and to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding, storm overflows provide a release valve to allow excess flows to enter the environment instead. These discharges contain up to 95 per cent rainwater and are permitted by the Environment Agency.

"However, we know that this is not an acceptable system moving forwards, and as part of £2bn of investment in our network between 2020 and 2025, we are working hard to reduce our reliance on storm overflows.

"We are doing this through a combination of innovative engineering and nature-based solutions, supported by close partnership working and an emphasis on slowing the flow of rainfall into our sewers. Our recently published annual bathing water update details how we are working to create healthier rivers and seas.”