More than 200 fish are believed to have died after sewage poured into a waterway in Eastbourne.

Environment Agency officers were counting the cost of the pollution yesterday and carrying out tests to assess how much damage the sewage had caused to Mill Ditch dyke and Shinewater Lake.

A spokeswoman said: "Samples have been taken so we can see how polluted the area has become.

"Our biology team was down there carrying out a survey and looking at the environmental impact."

Another swan was rescued by members of the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS), after two others were taken to Princes Park lake, near the seafront, on Tuesday.

Trevor Weekes, of WRAS, said the swan found yesterday may have become ill through the effects of the sewage and was being looked after by one of the service's co-ordinators in Telscombe Cliffs. Its progress was being monitored for 24 hours.

Mr Weekes said seven other birds in the area were also being kept a close eye on by volunteers.

Sewage is believed to have leaked from the Lynholm pumping station in Polegate at some point on Monday.

It was carried about two miles downstream to the lake, near a large residential housing estate.

Staff at Southern Water, responsible for the pumping station, were called to check it over and though no fault could be found, a leak was blamed.

The Environment Agency spokeswoman said it was still too early to say if a prosecution was likely.

She said: "Southern Water has cleared away the debris and hopefully the polluted water will flush away with the rainfall."