SEWAGE was pumped into Southend’s seas “for 251 hours” last year, according to MP Anna Firth.

The Southend West MP says the city’s beaches, which attract around seven million visitors a year, were plagued by sewage in 2021.

Speaking in Parliament, she said: “Sewage was pumped into the sea 48 times, for more than 251 hours. That is more than ten whole days.”

Ms Firth called for water firms to “do more”.

She added: “Southend cannot wait until 2035 for the use of storm overflows to be eliminated.”

Campaign group Southend Against Sewage, along with the Green Party, Extinction Rebellion and Friends of the Earth South Essex, are set to protest outside the Civic Centre tomorrow.

The protests marks the one-year anniversary of the collapse of an Anglian Water treatment well in Stock Road, which lead to sewage being discharged into the sea.

Southend’s beaches were closed for two weeks while the leak was fixed.

“For too long our sea has been polluted effectively without challenge,” campaigner Shah Haider said.

“These events have been disastrous for wildlife and the seafront economy.

“We want to see those responsible held to account financially.”

Speaking ahead of the protest, Ms Firth said: “Sewage discharges are a major problem we face in Southend, with grave environmental effects being seen on our beaches and leading to vast amounts of pollution flowing into our waters.

“Our waters in Southend are so crucial to our local fishing and tourism industries, and we need the cleanest of waters to ensure they continue to thrive. The issue of discharges stems from the Victorian sewage systems we have in place, where they cannot handle the current demands for modern day waste.”

An Anglian Water spokesman said: “Between 2020 and 2025, we’re re investing more than £200 million to reduce storm spills across the East of England, and as part of our Get River Positive commitment we’ve promised that storm overflows will not be the reason for unhealthy rivers in our region by 2030.”