Rhyl beach still closed after Clwyd Estuary sewage spill

Rhyl's seafront will remain closed to bathers until at least lunchtime on Thursday after a sewage spill in the Clwyd Estuary.

An emergency clean-up plan has been implemented, but people are being warned to stay out of the sea along the nearby coast.

The spill occurred after a pump at a Welsh Water pumping station broke down.

Environment Agency Wales said the station was flooded following recent heavy rain.

Warning signs have set up along beaches following the incident.

Denbighshire council has issued a warning about the potential of poor bathing water quality along the county's coastline as a precautionary measure.

The authority said: "People and their animals are advised to stay out of the sea water until further notice."

The agency said its officers were on site and taking water samples for analysis.

It said on Wednesday evening that the seafront would remain closed until 13:00 BST on Thursday at the earliest, when its officials will next check the incident.

The council said Welsh Water engineers had tried for two days to contain the spill at Westbourne Avenue pumping station.

It said high water levels in the River Clwyd following heavy rains had heavily diluted the sewage levels.