The government has announced it will spend £70m on sewage system upgrades in Sidmouth and Falmouth.

The cash will see combined sewer overflows, from which raw sewage is discharged into the River Sid, upgraded at The Ham, Fortescue Road and Manstone Road.

Raw sewage was discharged at the mouth of the River Sid for over 600 hours in 2022, according to Environment Agency data.

Tipton St John's combined sewer overflow at the River Otter will also be upgraded.

'This new multi-million-pound investment is much-needed' - Simon Jupp MP

Sidmouth's MP Simon Jupp has welcomed the news, after holding a debate on the situation in Parliament in February.

The Conservative MP for East Devon has also criticised accusations he voted "to pollute our waters and seas", which came after he voted to remove a House of Lords amendment to a bill (now the Environment Act 2021).

He said: "I have repeatedly called on South West Water to invest in East Devon.

"I'm really pleased they've listened to the case I have put forward on the floor of Parliament and in cross-party meetings with local councils.

"We pay the highest sewerage bills in the country and this new multi-million-pound investment is much-needed to upgrade our water infrastructure in Sidmouth and reduce nutrient pollution in Axminster.

"South West Water must continue to invest locally to clean up their act and our water."

Work to reduce nutrient pollution and support nutrient neutrality at Axminster Kilmington wastewater treatment works has also been announced. By no later than March 2025, the site should comply with phosphorus nutrient pollution standards.

SEE ALSO: Raw sewage discharges down in Sidmouth, new data shows

Sidmouth's MP slams South West Water and condemns accusations he voted 'to pollute our waters and seas'