Southern Water has unleashed sewage from overflow tanks across Kent – affecting six beaches in one district.

The company has warned water quality could be impacted in Thanet at Margate Main Sands, Fulsam Rock, Walpole Bay, Botany Bay, Joss Bay and Stone Bay.

And beaches in Folkestone, Sheerness and Hythe have also been affected following rain in the areas yesterday.

The overflows are designed to legally discharge excess sewage and rainwater when under strain to prevent sewers becoming overloaded and backing up into homes.

Southern Water says the releases are made up of 95% rainwater and are permitted by the Environment Agency.

The firm has been criticised over a series of wastewater releases in recent years and was named among the worst-performing companies by Ofwat in 2022.

In 2021, it was fined a record £90m for dumping billions of litres of raw sewage into the sea at 17 sites, with various spillages around the east Kent coast.

Two of Margate’s overflow pipes released sewage shortly before 10.30pm yesterday, with one release lasting almost four-and-a-half hours and another for more than three-and-a-half hours.

Meanwhile, Folkestone’s bathing area has also been impacted by a release which started at about 7pm and lasted for more than five-and-a-half hours.

And there was also a short 18-minute release in Sheerness at about 9pm last night and another lasting for seven minutes at about 10pm in Hythe.

Southern Water is investing an extra £50 million by spring 2025 to reduce the use of storm overflows in Whitstable, Deal and Margate by at least 20% in two years.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Heavy rain can overwhelm the combined sewer and drainage system which exists in many parts of our region.

“To protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding has led to some overflows – releasing excess water into the sea. These discharges are heavily diluted, typically being up to 95 per cent rainwater.

“We are dedicated to significantly reducing storm overflows and are running innovative pilot schemes across the region to reduce the amount of rainfall entering our combined sewers by 2030.”