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No 'bathing or paddling' after burst sewage pipe near Saltcoats

Getty Images A sea coastline with two people windsurfing along the waves which are small. The weather is overcast and in the back there is houses along the seafront, and a block of flats in the corner.Getty Images
The public have been warned to not enter the water at Saltcoats beach

Members of the public have been advised against bathing or paddling in the sea at Saltcoats and Ardrossan after a pollution incident earlier this week.

A burst pipe near Saltcoats Sewage Pumping station sparked the warning over water quality along the North Ayrshire coastline near the towns.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said it had been investigating the incident and was testing the water quality which was currently not suitable for bathing.

Scottish Water has been at the location since 29 June carrying out repairs and said it needed "to make an emergency, temporary discharge of screened sewage to the sea at Stevenston".

A spokesperson for SEPA said: "Signage at Saltcoats was updated to advise against paddling or bathing and will continue to reflect this guidance until we are satisfied there is no risk."

Earlier this month people were advised against going into the sea at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh due to a pollution incident.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) said routine water testing had found high levels of bacteria which were a potential human health risk.