Summer holiday warning as families told do not swim in the sea at UK beach

While the weather may not be the best at the moment, people are still flocking to popular holiday hotspots to really embrace that summer feeling.

Whether it's a pub gardens and backyard barbecues or picnics in the park and local beaches - Brits are clearly trying to make the most of the season before school starts back up again next month.

However, a summer holiday warning has now been issued as families are being told to not swim in the sea at one particular UK beach.

Environment Agency

Holidaymakers are being instructed to steer clear of dipping their toes in the waters off Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk with 'do not swim' flags first being raised on the beach Wednesday (2 August).

The concerns were raised after the North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) council received a 'pollution risk' alert which suggests a potential danger for anyone looking to bathe in the picturesque vistas.

The advice, given by the national Environment Agency, today (4 August) states in the 2023 Bathing Water Profile for Wells: "Advice against bathing: pollution risk warning."

The pollution risk forecasts are made every day at this particular body of bathing water and forecasts for this location are currently based on three specific measurements.

"These forecasts are based on rainfall, wind and tidal patterns and alert people when water quality may be poor," the Environment Agency states.

"Throughout the bathing season (May to September) the Environment Agency will issue warnings of any forecasted pollution risk on its Swimfo website."

Environment Agency

The council has since said it is currently 'awaiting further guidance' from the Environment Agency about when the flags could be removed and swimming be permitted again.

A spokesperson for the council said the pollution risk forecast alert was 'different from a controlled spillage overflow alert, based on data predictions and modelling,' the Eastern Daily Press reports.

According to a spokesperson from Holkham Estate, the estate which owns Wells beach, the Environment Agency carried out seawater sample checks across the country every day.

They said: "Based on these results, together with ten years of data capture, weather forecasts and tide activity, the Environment Agency creates a pollution risk forecast for each location.

"If the forecast predicts elevated bacterial readings, then the RNLI will change the colour of their flag to red and a sign will go up advising visitors against bathing.

"The bacteria at Wells is natural and related to the salt marshes and ‘wash off’ of bird/animal faeces. It is not related to raw sewage."

Topics: Travel, UK News, Environment

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.