The Environment Agency has announced that inspections of water companies across the east are set to increase.

This follows the recruitment of the first Environment Officers to specifically focused on water company regulation.

The new staff will be responsible for inspections, enforcement and regulation, and will help to ensure that parts of the environment that are most at risk of harm are protected.

By the end of the year, the Environment Agency is planning to have 30 new officers in post covering the East of England from the Humber to the Thames.

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Marcus Sibley, regulation manager for the East, said: “We share the public’s frustration about the levels of sewage in our waterways.

"Water company performance is not good enough and we are committed to crack down on non-compliance.

"More boots on the ground is a significant part of how we are enhancing the way we regulate the water sector.

“Taking this action will allow us to bring about a change in performance from the water industry that we all want to see.”