People urged not to go into the water at these popular locations in Wales

Warnings have been issued over storm sewage and against bathing along seaside locations in Wales. Surfers Against Sewage, one of UK's most successful marine conservation and campaigning charities, has published the alerts on its website.

It writes that there is an issue concerning storm sewage within the last 48 hours in Newport North, Saundersfoot and Llantwit Major areas, whilst bathing is not advised at Ogmore By Sea and Watch House Bay, Barry, due to its "poor annual classification".

The charity explains how sewage pollution is "everything we flush down the loo or wash down the drain that is released into the environment through sewer overflows, or that washes off the land and roads." For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.

Here are the areas which are currently subject to alerts, and the information contained about the areas on the Surfers Against Sewage website.

Newport North

The charity writes: "Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Newport North is a wide, sweeping and sandy beach measuring some 1.5 km in length. Facing north west out into the Irish Sea, the beach is backed by a golf club and agricultural land. A relatively new sewage treatment works discharges biologically treated sewage effluent via the long sea outfall, some 700m from the coast into Newport Bay."

Saundersfoot

The charity writes: "Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A beautiful, sandy expanse of gently sloping sand, backed by a shingle ridge with Saundersfoot harbour at the southern end. Discharges from sewer overflows can occur nearby and affect water quality, especially after heavy rainfall."

Ogmore By Sea

The charity writes: "Bathing not advised due to poor annual classification. A popular sand and pebble beach at the mouth of the River Ogmore. The two-mile-long beach is popular with families, surfers and canoeists. In 2023, the beach was classified as poor, so bathing is not advised."

Llantwit Major

The charity writes: "Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A sandy beach with exposed rock strata, rugged cliffs and rockpools. Part of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and popular with dog walkers and families coming to explore the rockpools. Also popular with the more advanced surfers as the surf breaks here over a rocky reef which can produce very good quality waves."

Watch House Bay

The charity writes: "Bathing not advised due to poor annual classification. Watch House Bay is a small easterly facing cove at the entrance to Barry Old Harbour. Around 100m long, the beach is backed by a concrete wall and large steps to a shingle bank with sand/mud at lower tides. The beach is next to Cold Knapp point and faces Friars Point to the west towards Barry Island. The watchtower at the northern end of the beach was built around 1860 as a coastguard station, behind the beach a promenade leads to Knapp gardens and Cold Knapp Bay." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.