AN ALERT has been issued by the Environment Agency warning against bathing in Shaldon.

The warning follows a suspected sewage leak which has come from Gales Hill in Teignmouth.

Shaldon Parish Council was told of the warning.

A spokesman said: ‘The council has been advised that there has been an incident that has a potential impact on Shaldon designated bathing areas.’

The notice from the Environment Agency says the advice is issued as a precaution.

It says South West Water is working with Devon Highways to investigate.

Stuart Reynolds, of Friends of the River Teign, said it had received reports of a sewage spill at Gales Hill on March 29 and went back days later to check.

He said: ‘It definitely looked like sewage and we reported this to the Environment Agency.

‘We also took a water sample and got the results a few days later which confirmed it.’

It is understood the spill may be the result of a collapsed sewer.

Mr Reynolds said: ‘South West Water and the Environment Agency did respond very quickly and it is not easy to identify where it was coming from.

‘We have had some reports from rowers of smells.

‘It is quite a large discharge and a significant flow of sewage.’