RESIDENTS have come out in force to support a protest demanding urgent action from South West Water over its record on sewage dumping.

A protest in Bude, organised by a young activist, Lottie Willson, saw locals come out in support of a message calling for the region’s water supplier to put a stop to sewage dumping.

Held at Northcott Mouth Beach protesters were equipped with a number of signs with waste-related slogans.

Commenting on the event, Lottie said: "South West Water need to be told that enough is enough. Their continued pollution of our coastlines is a tragic abuse of our environment and poses serious health risks to locals. At the protest, I heard first hand accounts from people who have been made ill swimming in the sea at Bude.”

The event also saw the area’s MP attend to show his support.

Commenting after the event, Ben Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, said: "Cornwall is fed up with being treated as a dumping ground, and our event on Friday really proved the point. Families, sea swimmers, and surfers are forced to put up with raw sewage in our waterways - while South West Water continues to pay out dividends and bonuses worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to their executive team.

"I was absolutely delighted to see such a strong turnout from local people in Bude and further afield, and I will be taking all of the conversations, points raised, and frustrations I heard directly back to Parliament this week."