Environment Secretary calls for probe into Camber Sands pellet pollution
Emma Reynolds has called for a "thorough investigation"
Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds, has called for a "thorough investigation", after huge numbers of plastic beads washed up on south coast beaches.
Southern Water apologised for the spill, which saw small plastic pellets strewn over the beach at Camber Sands, East Sussex, prompting a clean-up operation by the local council, experts and volunteers which began last week.
It is thought the beads, used in the water treatment process, had come from the Eastbourne wastewater treatment works, according to the company.
They were released into the sea during heavy rainfall, after the failure of a screening filter which should have stopped them escaping.
In the Commons, Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde warned of "catastrophic failures" by Southern Water in the region.
The Liberal Democrat described a "stench stinking out" the town "and a matter of days ago, the accidental discharge of millions of plastic bio-beads into our sea".
Mr Babarinde asked for a meeting with ministers to discuss how they could "force Southern Water to finally get a grip of their appalling failures".
Ms Reynolds replied: "I, like him, am appalled by this plastic pollution incident affecting his constituency and nearby constituencies, and Camber Sands.
"We are holding Southern Water to account.
"There needs to be a thorough investigation of what happened."
The Cabinet minister told MPs the authorities' "immediate priority is to address the damage caused", adding: "But we need to ask questions about why this wasn't uncovered earlier."
An earlier statement from the company, following the initial stages of an investigation into the incident, read: "We are very sorry this has happened and are doing everything possible to investigate and resolve the problem.
"We'll provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available.
"Southern Water teams continue to work closely with Rother District Council, which is leading the clean-up efforts, and we remain committed to supporting this work in every way we can."
Southern Water volunteers were continuing to assist work at Camber Sands, according to the firm, and less than 10 tonnes of beads were released.
Doug Oliver, the leader of Rother District Council, where Camber Sands lies, has previously said: "I'm really proud of the very quick response by our officers to this awful pollution incident and I'd also like to thank our specialist company Nurdle for their fantastic work and expert advice.
"I'm also grateful to all the local volunteers who continue to give up their valuable time to support the clean-up operation, however, in order for them and our officers to continue their huge task, they need further specialist equipment and support. We are now in talks with Southern Water to see if some of this equipment can be delivered to Camber as soon as possible."