A new bathing water site near Frome has been announced today (May 13) alongside 26 other locations in the country.

The River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford has been granted the new status by the government, meaning it must be tested for pollution at regular intervals during the summer by the Environment Agency.

The move has been welcomed by Sarah Dyke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome.

But she has demanded the government go further and stop sewage being pumped into bathing water sites.

"The water firms spilt sewage into bathing water sites 30,000 times last year and Conservative ministers did nothing to stop them," she said.

"No swimmer should have to fear raw sewage making them unwell and the Liberal Democrats are committed to ensuring they don't have to.

"Today, we tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to make water companies criminally liable for their sewage pollution.

"There's clear consensus that water companies should face criminal charges and I'd urge MPs from all parties to back this amendment and finally get tough on these firms."

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