An interactive map shows how pollution is being emptied into rivers and bathing water around the UK - including in Dorset.

The map, produced by charity The Rivers Trust, has been compiled using data from the Environment Agency and shows where the sewerage network overflows into rivers during heavy rain.

The Rivers Trust is advising people to avoid entering the water immediately downstream of these discharges and avoid the overflows - marked by brown circles - especially after it has been raining.

Use the search box or zoom on the map to find your location.

Be warned - you might not like what you discover!

A spokesperson for The Rivers Trust said: "At The Rivers Trust, we believe that people should be able to swim, paddle, catch and play without worrying about sewage pollution.

"That’s why we launched Together for Rivers: an ambitious campaign which hopes to see designated bathing waters introduced to well-used rivers in the UK.

"Until cleaner rivers become a reality, we will continue to fight for public access to data on sewage pollution.

"That’s why we created our Sewage Map, which gives details on the location and spill duration of CSOs across England and Wales."

Controversial vote by MPs

It comes after a majority vote by Conservative MPs against an amendment to the Environment Bill in the House of Commons last week.

Had the amendment been passed, it would have forced water companies to upgrade the sewer network to stop pumping raw sewage into rivers and the sea.

The move has been criticised by charity Surfers Against Sewage.

A spokesperson said: "Putting this legal duty on water companies to take steps to reduce their reliance on CSO’s could have made a real difference by forcing water companies to finally tackle their shocking sewage pollution record."

Responding to backlash, several Conservative MPs posted a statement on their websites.

The statement reads: “To eliminate storm overflows means transforming the entire Victorian sewage system to a whole new sewage system.

"It would be irresponsible for any government to spend an estimated preliminary cost of anywhere between £150bn to £650bn to transform the entire sewage system.

"This is a huge amount to spend in an ordinary time, let alone at a time of a continuing health pandemic.

“To give some perspective, £150bn is more than the entire schools, policing and defence budget put together and £650bn is billions more than we have spent on supporting livelihoods and jobs throughout the health pandemic.”