A water company has apologised for any confusion caused by a false alarm about a sewage overflow incident at two adjoining North East beaches.

Northumbrian Water was reacting to a pollution risk alert at the Seaburn and Roker beaches in Sunderland, said it was cuased by a power failure. 

The alert had been shared by the Surfers Against Sewage from the Safer Seas and River Services app - noting that storm sewage had been discharged in the last 48 hours.

A spokesperson for Northumbrian Water said: “A power failure at our Seaburn pumping station caused an alarm to go off, which falsely triggered the Surfers Against Sewage discharge alert service.

Read more: Pollution risk alert for Sunderland's Roker and Seaburn beaches

"We can categorically confirm there has been no impact on bathing water quality during this time and no discharge of any flow into the Whitburn Storm system.

"We are working closely with Surfers Against Sewage and apologise for any confusion this false alarm has caused.”

Safer Seas and River Services monitor water quality around the UK.

The Northern Echo: Surfers Against Sewage have put out an alert affecting two adjoining Sunderland beaches Picture: GRABSurfers Against Sewage have put out an alert affecting two adjoining Sunderland beaches Picture: GRAB

 

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