Sewage problem causes Dublin beach to close

A north Dublin beach remains closed today after raw sewage pumped into the sea prompted a high level E.Coli contamination.

Raw sewage was discharged into the sea for up to 26 hours at Balbriggan beach at the weekend, after a malfunction at a pumping station went unnoticed.

A member of the public alerted the council to the issue on Tuesday when waste was washed up in the tide.

Sampling tests earlier this week found that E.Coli was five times the upper limit safe for bathing.

Further results today will determine if the beach can be reopened.