An outfall pipe near two Isle of Wight beauty spot beaches was used yesterday (Tuesday), by utility firm Southern Water, prompting an angry reaction from environmental campaigners.

There was a discharge from the Norton Transfer pipe.

It affected both Totland and Colwell Bay, between 11.30am and 12.12pm, according to Southern Water's monitoring site, Beachbuoy.

Two other discharges on the Island's coast were discounted after checks.

On Twitter, Surfers Against Sewage said: "Shockingly unsurprising.

"It's a horrifying sight on our Safer Seas and Rivers Service app today.

"What's happening? A rainy day and sewage SPEWS into our waterways."

Southern Water argues discharge from outfall pipes is not raw sewage, but a storm water mix, containing only treated matter.

In May, on the first days of the official bathing season, Southern Water used its outflow pipes twenty three times, around the Isle of Wight's coast, as thunder and lightning swept across the Island.

In July, after a discharge on one of the hottest and driest days of the year, power failure was cited as the reason why a Southern Water treatment station released what the firm called 'fully treated water', just 1km from the Isle of Wight's coast.

Usually, a 5km pipe is used, except in 'exceptional circumstances', which usually follows heavy rain. 

Yesterday, meanwhile, along the south coast in Sussex, video was shared on social media by Martyn Craddock, apparently showing the release of sewage at Seaford.

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The County Press has asked Southern Water for a comment on the discharges on the Isle of Wight.