Northumbrian Water says leaking sewage pipes may have been a long-running source of contamination at Cullercoats Bay, where bathing water has received the Environment Agency’s lowest rating since 2018. If confirmed, the discovery could explain years of poor water quality and offer a route to improving conditions at the North Tyneside beach.

Recent surveys and excavation work found damaged private and public pipes, plus incorrectly fitted household pipework, on Beverley Terrace. The company believes sewage may have leaked into groundwater before reaching the bay; it has repaired its own pipes and is working with homeowners, while the Environment Agency will carry out further tests to assess whether pollution levels improve.