New notice at South Shields beach warns public against bathing in sea
A warning notice at Littlehaven Beach has been issued over water quality.
A warning to anyone wishing to use the water off Littlehaven Beach in South Shields has been placed on the town’s coastline.
A physical notice was placed on a noticeboard overlooking the beach on Thursday, June 4 citing poor water quality in the area.
The warning claims the Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water and South Tyneside Council are “undertaking investigations to indentify identify affecting bathing water quality” at the beach.
The beach’s last two annual classifications for its water quality, released in 2024 and 2025, labelled the water as ‘poor’ quality. This is the worst of the three categories.
Data taken from the Environment Agency’s website show the most recent sample was taken on Wednesday, May 27. This is one of 20 samples expected to be taken throughout the summer, dictating the beach’s overall rating for 2026.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Since Littlehaven Beach was designated as a bathing water site in 2024, the Environment Agency have been working to identify the source of the pollution impacting the area.
“As with all sites classified as ‘Poor’, visitors are advised against swimming in the water until water quality has significantly improved.”
Nick Jones of South Shields Surf CIC added: “The coast is one of the best assets of this town. Instead of engaging the public to get involved in the water, all they’re doing is putting people off.”
He adds: “I’m not saying people shouldn’t be informed. They need the full picture.”
The full note, which was put on the notice board on the beach’s public toilets, reads: “Water quality is advised against at Littlehaven Beach due to pollution caused by a variety of contributing sources. The beach is within the mouth of the River Tyne, which has a catchment of approximately 3,000 square kilometres.
“It rises in Pennine moorland, draining a largely agricultural catchment before reaching the sea via an urban/industrial estuary.
“The Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water and South Tyneside Council are undertaking investigations to identify factors affecting water bathing quality at Littlehaven Beach.
“The Environment Agency has undertaken DNA analysis of bathing water samples to help determine the sources of pollution and will continue its investigation during the 2026 bathing water season.”