BEACHGOERS were discouraged from swimming at a beach in Bournemouth this week following a pollution warning.

Boscombe Pier was marked as a pollution risk on Thursday morning, deterring swimmers from the waters yet again.

One beachgoer also reported seeing red flags on the beach between Bournemouth and Boscombe, and said he was told by a lifeguard it would be unwise to swim due to the tides.

The warning came from the Environment Agency, who have said there isn’t a ‘single particular reason’ as to why it was issued.

Read more: Wessex Water on Boscombe and Lulworth pollution warnings

Their spokesperson said: “There are a number of factors that can influence the quality of bathing waters. These include wind, sunlight, rain and tide and can lead to short term pollution arising as bacteria is washed into the sea. Sources of the bacteria can include water draining from agricultural and urban land during periods of heavy rain, as we have seen over the last couple of days.

“Short term pollution cases are where we expect the pollution to last for no more than 72 hours and we use the Pollution Risk Forecasting system to give out information when this will happen and to advise against bathing.”

Interactive maps by Wessex Water and campaign group Surfers Against Sewage have highlighted a number of potentially polluted Dorset beaches in past months.

Read more: Which Dorset beaches saw sewage discharges in past 24 hours

On Tuesday August 16, Boscombe Pier and Lulworth Cove had been marked with a ‘Pollution Risk Warning’, but Wessex Water said the alert was issued by the EA, and confirmed that no overflows had been discharged in the two areas at that time.

However, the following day, a map on Wessex Water's website showed sewage has been discharged at West Bay, Eypemouth, Swanage, Hengistbury Head, Avon Beach and Friars Cliff in Christchurch.

The flagged areas have caused concern amongst swimmers, but Wessex Water have assured people that they are committed to eliminating sewage spills.