Hundreds protest after sewage repeatedly discharged into the sea in north Kent

Campaigners marched between Tankerton and Swalecliffe.

Hundreds of campaigners have held a protest over sewage discharges by Southern Water into the sea at Thanet.

Protestors marched from the lifeguard hut at Tankerton to the Southern Water treatment plant in Swalecliffe.

It was organised by campaign group Save Our Seas Whitstable, which was launched two months ago to campaign against what they say is "endless" pollution.

The Whitstable coastline has been blighted by a wave of waste water releases this month, after the area was battered by heavy rain.

Beaches have been closed below the water line - from Margate to Ramsgate.

Southern Water said it will carry out a full investigation into the cause as well as inspections of the surrounding beaches until Monday. 

A spokesman for the company said previously: “Across the country sewer systems were built connected to surface water drains in order to protect homes from flooding.

“In heavy or intense rain the Environment Agency permits waste water companies to release this rainfall in order to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding and ensure customers can use their toilets, showers and washing machines as normal.”

In July Southern Water was slapped with a record £90 million fine  after releasing up to 21 billion litres of sewage into protected water between 2010 and 2015.