At least 25 beaches across Scotland were contaminated with sewage in breach of safety limits in June and July, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
Sewers have overflowed and animal faeces washed into the sea, endangering the health of swimmers and surfers in Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Argyll, Highland, Aberdeenshire, Fife and Lothian.
The worst polluted bathing water was at Saltcoats and Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, where a sample taken on 16 June recorded concentrations of faecal bacteria 30 times the safety limit.
Don’t be fooled by the flowers about swimming at places like Havoc Shore in Dumbarton.