WATCHDOGS at the Environment Agency have launched an investigation into a pollution incident in the Solent.

Southern Water has confirmed that the pumping station in Albany Road, East Cowes, suffered a breakdown, resulting in waste water being discharged into the sea via sewage outfall pipes.

Other sewage was pumped out by a fleet of tankers and taken to another pumping station. The amount of sewage released into the Solent has not been disclosed.

A Southern Water spokesman said the breakdown at the Albany Road facility resulted in the company having to install new pumps.

He said tankers were used to deal with incoming flows to the site but “some” screened wastewater was released into the environment to protect nearby homes and businesses.

The spokesman said the Environment Agency, Isle of Wight Council and the local community had been told about the situation.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “On Monday evening Southern Water reported that there had been a release of screened wastewater - sewage that has been sieved to remove solids - from a storm outfall into East Cowes. There was a further release yesterday.

“We are working with Southern Water to ensure they are doing all they can to prevent further releases and we will be questioning them at a later stage to determine the reason for the discharge.”