Water companies could face automatic fines for polluting Sussex’s waterways under Labour proposals.

On a visit to Brighton, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said that a Labour government would implement “greater fines and greater penalties” on firms that dump sewage into the sea and rivers.

It comes as campaign group Surfers Against Sewage called on political parties to commit to a raft of measures to stop sewage pollution.

Among the measures a Labour government would introduce include mandatory monitoring of pollution and automatic fines for firms that pollute rivers and beaches.

Ms Reeves said: “What’s happening at the moment is totally unacceptable.

"Argus readers live in some of the most beautiful parts of Britain and what should be some of the most beautiful beaches and rivers, but all too often surfers can’t surf and swimmers can’t swim.

“What should be a wonderful day out with family is ruined by a polluted beach, and we’ve got to turn that around.

“Labour has been pushing for stronger controls on water companies. 

“The bosses of these companies need to take greater responsibility and, with greater fines and greater penalties, we would make sure that would happen.”

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Surfers Against Sewage want Brighton and Hove City Council to install gauges on surface water outfalls by June this year and get Southern Water to reduce storm outfall use to zero by 2030.

Stuart Davies, a volunteer regional representative for the group, said: “People are increasingly swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling, rowing, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing all year round on many of our city’s beaches and inland rivers.

“That we cannot do so safely due to reckless raw sewage releases is an utter disgrace.”

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The Green Party have also committed to tackling the “scandal” and said that the Green-led council in the city have worked to challenge Southern Water on the issue.

A spokeswoman for the party said: “We have committed in our manifesto to both continuing this challenge as well as introducing more sustainable urban drainage systems in the city.”

Voters go to the polls across the city on May 4 to elect 54 councillors for the next four years.