POLLUTION alerts were issued by charity Surfers Against Sewage today, as heavy rains caused South West Water to discharge raw sewage into Teignbridge's rivers and beaches.

Sewage discharges have occurred in Shaldon, Holcombe, Dawlish Town and Coryton Cove over the last 48 hours.

The latest alert comes after a long summer and autumn of sewage and discontent, with demonstrations against the practice organised by Councillor Martin Wrigley last month.

According to Top of the Poops, an organisation monitoring sewage discharges across the UK, the Central Devon constituency was the seventh worst for sewage dumps last year, with over 4,500 separate sewage dumps, amounting to over 43,000 hours of sewage pumping.

A South West Water spokesperson has previously responded: ‘After listening to and talking with customers, communities and campaigners right across our region, in April we announced WaterFit, our plans to protect rivers and seas together.

‘WaterFit will dramatically reduce our use of storm overflows, maintain our region’s excellent bathing water quality standards all year round and reduce and then remove our impact on river water quality by 2030. Working with partners and customers WaterFit will begin to deliver the change we all want to see.’