SWIMMERS are being advised not to enter the water in Poole after a pollution risk alert has been flagged.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) identified on its live interactive map that Poole Harbour Rockley Sands has a ‘sewage pollution alert.’

Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

A spokesperson for SAS said: “Found well within Poole Harbour, Rockley Sands is a small sand and mud beach with a small harbour and slipway set below a train track and beside a large holiday park.

“It is very popular for water sports although swimming is limited. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly onto the beach, however, as the beach is located within Poole Harbour, the bathing water may be affected by other overflows from the surrounding area.”

SAS said that pollution risks are issued by the Environment Agency, which uses rainfall and other factors to assess the risk of a reduction in bathing water quality.

Alerts are issued every morning and remain valid for 24 hours.

Usually, after a period of rainfall, Wessex Water automatically operates a storm overflow, releasing ‘predominantly rainfall’ to prevent sewers from becoming overwhelmed.