A beach has now been declared safe for swimmers after sewage was released into the sea.

Bathers were advised not to go into the water at Folkestone yesterday following a release of wastewater off Dover overnight on Thursday.

Beachgoers have since expressed anger about mixed messages and delayed warnings over the safety of the water - with the Environment Agency and Southern Water issuing conflicting advice.

The agency released a statement yesterday to say water quality was likely to have been reduced following the sewage leak, and urged bathers not to enter the sea from 5am yesterday.

A spokesman said: "We are investigating the release of raw sewage from a Southern Water pipe out at sea overnight on August 11/12 at Dover.

"Our current advice to swimmers and others members of the public is to stay out of the sea at Folkestone until Saturday morning."

The beach was declared safe at 9.30 this morning after Environment Agency officers patrolled the seafront to check if any sewage was present.

But Southern Water insists there was never any impact on the beach's water quality, as the sewage release was around 1.6 miles out to sea.

A spokeswoman said: "On the night of 11 August our Broomfield Park wastewater treatment site experienced high gas levels, activating a safety system and halting pumps in order to protect the site and the working environment for our staff.

"This resulted in the release of waste-water via the long sea outfall, 2.7km out to sea for approx. 170 minutes. Our team responded quickly and safely to rectify the situation, and restarted the pumps.

"We wish to reassure people that we carried out extensive modelling, taking into consideration tides, wind and the volume of the release, (which was low due to the time of night and the fact that flows into site had been slowed by the pumps ceasing).

"It concludes that there is no impact on water quality at any bathing water sites. We have done beach walks just as a matter of precaution and as expected they are clear."

Beachgoers have now expressed their anger over perceived delays in making bathers aware of the situation.

Mum-of-two Louise Morgan, from Folkestone, said she felt "neglected" after her two children swam in the water while staff made no effort to close the beach down.

The 43-year-old said: "I'm really angry because I care about my children, nobody intentionally puts their children at risk of being ill.

"It was just neglect, there's a duty of care that hasn't been taken.

"I'm not amused that the beach wasn't shut, the lifeguards were not informing the public, there was just one chalk board sign, that was easily missed.

"Southern Water keep letting sewage into the sea and they get fined, but the fine is obviously nothing in comparison to the profits they're making."

The social worker continued: "We frequent the beach's sunny sands quite a bit, my children like to go the beach and swim.

"It later came to my knowledge that there was sewage in the sea, but the lifeguards hadn't shut the beach off, nor had they made any attempt to tell swimmers about it."

Mum Louise O'Connell also raised concerns about the lack of information on the beach.

She said: "My kids have been swimming in the sea at Sunny Sands, Folkestone, and as we left we noticed a chalkboard sign but it was too late after they had already been in. Where is the sewage coming from?!"

This is the latest in a string of sewage-related incidents along the Kent coast.

Most recently, a couple criticised Southern Water for releasing sewage into the sea 24 hours before they went for a swim, leading to them contracting gastroenteritis.

Georgia Hearn, from Gateshead, was visiting Herne Bay with her partner Chris and dog Sully, and they went swimming and paddleboarding in the sea.

On Tuesday the three of them were struck down by a serious case of gastroenteritis, and Miss Hearn said it ruined their holiday.