Swimmers have been advised against celebrating the new year by taking a dip at several beaches in East Devon due to pollution alerts.

The Environment Agency website has a pollution incident report on its website for Beer, which says the incident began at 2.44am today (January 1).

Beer's water quality is usually classified as 'excellent' by the agency based on samples taken between 2019 and 2023.

However, the website say there are three sewer overflows nearby which may affect water quality, particularly after a period of heavy rainfall.

The agency's pollution risk forecasts include other factors that may affect bathing water.

The Surfers Against Sewage website, which tracks sewage discharge and pollution risks across the UK, also recommends against swimming in Exmouth, Sandy Bay, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth and Seaton.

Nearby Lyme Regis and Charmouth in Dorset have similar alerts in place.

South West Water, which manages water and wastewater services in the area, says some of its storm overflows have operated due to heavy rainfall.

Midweek Herald: Surfers Against Sewage's interactive map, shown on January 1.Surfers Against Sewage's interactive map, shown on January 1. (Image: Surfers Against Sewage/Google Maps)

The pollution alert issued by Surfers Against Sewage says: “Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.”

A spokesperson for South West Water said: “We know that many of our customers like to enjoy swims across the region as part of their New Year traditions and we’re investing record amounts to reduce the use of storm overflows so they continue feeling confident enjoying these events.

“Due to the heavy, localised rainfall across the region over the past few days, some of our storm overflows have operated.

“Storm overflows are pressure relief valves built into our network that are an essential way to stop homes and businesses from flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and reducing their use is a priority for us.”

Sewage should only be spilled after heavy rain, but there were 1.75 million recorded hours of discharge in the UK from 15,000 storm overflows in 2022.

All storm overflows in the UK are now electronically monitored, which the government says will make it easier to hold water companies to account.

Environment secretary Steve Barclay said: “The completion of storm overflow monitoring is a major step forward in better protecting our precious waterways, as well as the communities and wildlife that rely on them.”