If you are planning to take a dip on the Lancashire coast today (September 15) or this weekend you might want to think again.

The Environment Agency has issued a warning to people at Blackpool North and Blackpool Central.

The agency say swimming in these areas is “not advised today” due to “pollution from sewage”.

The website says: “This incident has been identified as an abnormal situation, water quality monitoring has been suspended.

"Monitoring will resume once the incident is over.”

Water around Fleetwood, Cleveleys and Lytham St Annes is currently classed as good or sufficient to swim in.

Across the UK there are currently 19 pollution alerts in force.

Water quality at designated bathing water sites in England is assessed by the Environment Agency.

From May to September, weekly assessments measure current water quality, and at a number of sites daily pollution risk forecasts are issued.

Annual ratings classify each site as excellent, good, sufficient or poor based on measurements taken over a period of up to four years.

Earlier this year, the Department for Health and Social care said sewage in UK waterways was becoming a growing problem.

In joint opinion piece from Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, Jonson Cox, Water Services Regulation Authority chair and Emma Howard Boyd, Environment Agency chair said: “During lockdown many people took to swimming in rivers and have continued since.

“Our rivers, seas and waterways should therefore be free from sewage to reduce risk to the public.

“There are two major issues to tackle. The first is raw sewage discharge from the sewage network and in particular storm overflows.

“The second major issue is coliforms from the continuous normal discharge from sewage works.

“ Whilst raw sewage is not discharged into waterways from these, viable bacteria and viruses are, as part of normal operations.

“Eliminating discharges of coliforms from sewage works upstream of popular recreational areas will go a long way to reducing human faecal infective organisms downstream.”

To contact the Environment Agency about this incident call 03708 506 506 quoting NIRS reference 02096540.