“Sewage sundaes” will be handed out on Brighton’s seafront today in a bid to highlight the state of the city’s beaches.

Free poo-themed ice cream will be available in a range of flavours to highlight sewage discharges in Sussex’s waterways and to call for change from the next government.

The stunt, organised by campaign group 38 Degrees, comes as beachgoers and swimmers continue to highlight the blight of sewage on the county’s beaches.

The ice cream van in Eastbourne on SaturdayThe ice cream van in Eastbourne on Saturday (Image: 38 Degrees)

Matthew McGregor, chief executive of 38 Degrees, said: “Summer holidays are around the corner but our great British seaside is under threat, and we’ve had enough.

“Luckily, unlike the beautiful coastline around Brighton, our ice creams won’t actually contain any human waste but behind this silly stunt is a deadly serious point.

“The people in Brighton don’t want to swim in seas filled with poo, let alone let their kids splash around in it. Whoever becomes our next Prime Minister has the chance to change that.

“We’ll be giving people in Brighton and the surrounding area the chance to have their voices heard on this huge national issue and pick up a delicious treat while they’re at it.”

The protest will be trying to gain signatures for a petition which will call for the next Prime Minister to take action to end sewage spills.

It comes after spills into seas and rivers by Southern Water nearly doubled in 2023 compared with the previous year.

In recent weeks, beach users and sea swimmers have taken to the waters near the West Pier to call for cleaner seas.

The poo-decorated ice cream van will be parked at The Plaza by Hove Lawns until 4pm today.