BBC Home
Explore the BBC
BBC News
Launch consoleBBC NEWS CHANNEL
Last Updated:  Monday, 7 April, 2003, 07:38 GMT 08:38 UK
Beaches checked before tourist season
Woman walking into the sea
Levels of pollution flowing into the sea will be tested
Beaches across the South West are being checked for pollution ahead of the tourist season.

Officers from the Environment Agency will be visiting 39 high-risk sites across the region which have had pollution problems before.

The aim of the checks is to spot any potential dangers before tourists begin to arrive next month.

Inspectors are set to target Weston-super-Mare, Burnham and Minehead among others.

They will test what is being pumped into the sea through outlet pipes and check for rubbish and dog mess on the beaches.

The South West's tourism industry is hoping for a bumper season this year - the war in Iraq has seen a drop in the numbers of people taking foreign holidays.




SEE ALSO:
UK beaches hit litter record
14 Mar 03  |  Science/Nature
South West beaches rubbished
20 Mar 02  |  England


INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | World | UK | England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | Politics
Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health | Education
Have Your Say | Magazine | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific