Conservationists scrapped plans to carry out "extremely important" seaside surveys on the coast amid fears they would contract hepatitis.

Kent Wildlife Trust's Shoresearch group was set to undertake work at Fulsam Rock in Margate last Friday - two days after a discharge thought to contain sewage was released nearby.

But the team was stood down after it concluded the discharge could have put the health of the volunteers at risk.

Event organiser Sherece Thompson explained: "The worst-case scenario would have been a volunteer contracting hepatitis if they were to cut themselves while in contact with the water.

"The discharge resulted in people being advised not to swim in the water with a warning appearing on the ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ app.

"I had to consider the health risks if the event had pressed ahead and we were forced to cancel."

Studies have previously sewage workers - who are advised to vaccinate themselves against hepatitis A - can be exposed to the virus.

Southern Water says the pumps at Margate Wastewater Treatment Works briefly stopped working due to a "technical fault" on Wednesday night.

The firm stresses the downpours that coincided with the incident led "to surface water entering the sewage and drainage system locally", before being released into the sea.

However it insists the discharge was "made up of up to 95% rain".

Shoresearch members believe such discharges "need to stop".

"There is a huge amount of work that goes into survey days and the data the volunteers collect and collate is extremely important," Ms Thompson added.

“This week I have received reports of dead fish washing up on Minnis Bay and I have been told of dogs falling ill after being walked there.

"To think our beaches are so polluted that we put our health at risk if we use them is devastating, and it will undoubtedly have consequences for the marine life that have no choice but to live there.

“This practice needs to stop, and I would ask people to write to their local MP, we need laws in place to stop this from happening, so wildlife can thrive.”

Storm overflows are permitted by the Enviroment Agency, but Southern Water officials insist they are "finding ways to reduce our reliance on them".

Shoresearch had wanted to survey the intertidal shore where the sea meets the land, in a bid to learn more about the local wildlife.

A Southern Water spokesman said: "Due to a technical fault on the night of Wednesday, November 16, the pumps at Margate Wastewater Treatment Works briefly stopped working.

"We also experienced extremely heavy rain – 31mm of rain falling in just 12 hours at that location – at the same time, leading to volumes of surface water entering the sewage and drainage system locally.

"The resultant increased flows, made up of up to 95% rain water, were released throughout storm overflow pipes in order to stop homes, schools and businesses from flooding.

"Throughout this incident, we fully engaged with a range of partners including the Environment Agency and Thanet District Council, and would like to apologise to anyone for any concern caused."