Water containing sewage has been pumped into six Sussex beaches in the past 24 hours. 

Recent heavy rain has been blamed as Southern Water has released so-called "storm overflows" into the sea at St Leonards, Bexhill, Saltdean, Seaford and Littlehampton beaches.

In stormy weather, rain can overwhelm combined sewer and drainage systems which exist across Sussex.

Southern Water said that in these circumstances it releases storm overflows “to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding”.

Charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has previously spoken out against the outpourings, saying Sussex sea water is making swimmers ill. 

Stuart Davies, a volunteer regional representative for SAS, previously told The Argus: “People are increasingly swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling, rowing, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing all year round on many of our city beaches, and inland rivers.

"That we cannot do so safely due to reckless raw sewage releases is an utter disgrace."

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Data provided by Southern Water's online tracker shows that there was a storm overflow for nearly an hour and a half at Littlehampton beach in the early hours of this morning. 

In the east of the county, there was a 23-minute outpouring at Saltdean beach and a 27-minute overflow in Seaford. 

A spokesman for Southern Water, said: "Increased rainfall can put extra pressure on our sewer network when large volumes of surface water enter the system. 

"To stop homes, schools and businesses from flooding, our nation’s network of storm overflows act as a release value to temporarily relieve this pressure, allowing excess flows - typically made up of up to 95% rainwater - to enter rivers and the sea. This is permitted by the Environment Agency. 

"While this is how the system is designed to work in weather like this, we know we need to continue to work hard to improve the network.

"This is going to take time, and we are now investing £3 billion (around £1,500 per household) between 2020 and 2025 – much of which will reduce the use of storm overflows, increase storage capacity and find ways to divert rain back to the environment naturally."