Marine campaigner's sewage fear

The company says it is trying to reduce the impact of the spillage

A marine environmentalist has said urgent action is needed to deal with raw sewage being pumped into Whitby harbour.

A beach at the popular North Yorkshire tourist resort has been closed after a sewage pumping station failed and raw effluent was diverted into the sea.

Engineers from Yorkshire Water have spent 36 hours working on the fault at the Endeavour Wharfe pumping station.

Charles White, of the Sons of Neptune, said the discharge was "a danger".

Mr White, a co-founder of the marine conservation and campaigning group, said he was very concerned about the spillage.

It's a danger to children on the beaches Charles White

The Scarborough-based campaigner said his organisation had fought a long battle to clean up beaches and the sea.

He said the process of effluent being discharged into the harbour should be dealt with as a "matter of urgency".

"It's a danger to human life, a danger to marine life and to future life.

"It's a danger to children on the beaches.

"Yorkshire Water urgently need to put the matter right to prevent further pollution for this and future generations."

Health 'priority'

The untreated waste was initially discharged through an emergency outflow on Monday evening.

Yorkshire Water said when engineers inspected the pipes at the pumping station on Tuesday, they were found to be irreparable and as a result new pumps were needed.

"The transport and installation of these pumps could take some time, however Yorkshire Water would like to reassure customers that the company is doing everything it can to rectify the problem," a spokesman for the company said.

"The teams on site in Whitby will continue to work round the clock to restore pumping at the station as quickly as possible."

Tate Hill Sands beach near Whitby harbour was closed as a precaution but other beaches are open.

Yorkshire Water said it was working with Scarborough Borough Council and the Environment Agency to "ensure public health remains a priority" and to reduce the impact of the spillage.