Pristine beaches, poisoned water: What water companies did to Blackpool

Raw sewage was released into open water on the Fylde Coast more than 1,500 times in 2022. Blackpool's hard-fought status as a safe place to swim is now in jeopardy.

By Louisa Gregson

The Fylde Coast sea water was a bracing seven degrees on Tuesday, but retiree Chris Pogson donned her wetsuit and fluorescent green swimming cap and waded in at Fleetwood all the same. 

Chris joined the Cleveleys Dippers in 2022. A group of likeminded women, many of them of a certain age, came together to reap the health and wellbeing be…