Engineers are investigating reports of a sewage spill at a beach once named one of the best in Europe.

Surfers Against Sewage, an environmental charity that campaigns to protect the oceans, first shared reports of the spill at Gorleston beach on Tuesday morning.

Anglian Water has confirmed that one of its combined sewer overflows has reached capacity.

Combined sewage overflows are currently part of the national water system to release rainwater and wastewater – including sewage – into waterways in the event of heavy rainfall.

READ MORE: Anglian Water ordered to refund customers £38m for poor performance

Technicians have been sent to the site to assess the situation. 

Sewage spills from storm overflows increased in 2023 compared to the previous year.

Figures released by the Environment Agency earlier this year showed that spills were up 54pc in 2023, compared to 2022, partly because England had its sixth wettest year on record, and up 13pc on 2020, which had comparable rainfall.