TWO beaches in Lyme Regis beach have been named as among the dirtiest in the country.

TWO beaches in Lyme Regis beach have been named as among the dirtiest in the country.

Tests carried out by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC) showed Church

and Cobb beach failed the minimum legal quality standard due to sewage overflows.

They are among five failed beaches in the South West, following tests carried out in the summer of last year.

MSC conservationists have blamed storm pollution from combined sewer overflows, which discharge raw sewage into the sea. They say agricultural pollution, particularly waste from livestock, washing off farmland during heavy rain has aggravated the problem.

Thomas Bell, MCS coastal pollution officer, said; "Our campaign is focused now on the degree to which combined sever overflows are to blame for bathing water pollution and what can be done about it.

"We're talking about a vast network of sewer overflow pipes, which carry raw sewage out of flooded sewer systems and deposit it into rivers."

Charmouth West beach was among 55 per cent of 769 bathing beaches in the UK to be recommended in the MSC's annual Good Beach Guide.

The MSC recommended 127 beaches out of 193 in the South West for excellent water quality this year.

For more information, visit www.goodbeachguide.co.uk