A Greenpeace investigation has revealed that sewage has been flooding into the North East's most protected habitats.

Last year Northumbrian Water leaked sewage for 15,333 hours and Yorkshire Water for 4,567 into the most sensitive areas.

Across the whole country there were leaks from 1,200 sewage overflow pipes for over 300,000 hours.

New research has revealed those leaks were into sensitive habitats that are officially protected under conservation law.

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Megan Corton, political campaigner for Greenpeace UK, explained that she believed the only way forward was to force water companies to clean our waterways.

She said: "These are the casualty figures from a war which nature is losing, badly. Private water companies treat our countryside as a toilet, and their vandalism doesn’t stop at some of our most sensitive conservation areas.

"Beloved lakes, beaches and rivers, rare wildlife habitats, sites of special scientific interest are being sacrificed so water company bosses and shareholders can continue to reap huge profits.

"The idea that the sewage industry could be shamed into doing the right thing has been tried and failed - nothing matters to them except profit.

"The only way to force them to clear up their mess is to make all of their dividends and bonuses dependent on actual results.

"Instead of long-term targets and empty threats, ministers should actually force the water companies to do the job we pay them for, starting now."

Over the past five months the Unearthed team have been conducting analysis on water companies sewage overflow releases.

Using that data they have checked protected areas to reveal the extent of pollution in protected wilderness areas.

There are four main categories of protected area in England and Wales. 

  1.  Site of Special Scientific Interest (295 affected)
  2.  Special Areas of Conservation (100 affected)
  3. Special Protection Areas (72 affected)
  4.  Ramsar Sites (48 affected)

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When sewage is released into natural ecosystems it increases the concentration of nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs and pesticides in the environment.

It can cause the growth of toxic blue green algae that kills fish and plants.

The algae can cause serious illnesses in humans including rashes, vomiting and fevers.