Cocaine and other recreational drugs have been discovered in samples from the Sussex shore.

Researchers from Portsmouth and Brunel Universities discovered more than 50 compounds, including high levels of potentially harmful chemicals, from seawater in and around Chichester.

Nearly 300 samples were collected from the harbour, as well as nearby Langstone harbour in Hampshire, as part of a project funded by concerned residents.

Among the substances discovered included illegal drugs - including cocaine, meth and MDMA.

Medication, including antidepressants, diabetes drugs and statins, were also detected, along with a range of pesticides.

Both harbours have outflow pipes that discharge raw sewage.

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Professor Alex Ford, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “We know there are billions of litres of sewage discharges annually around the UK but the impact of these discharges is not clearly understood.

“This project is enabling us to determine what chemical contaminants are in our marine life and coastal waters.

“We have found a large variety of prescribed and illegal drugs plus a variety of pesticides in coastal waters and marine organisms, such as crabs and oysters.

“This is important because we know that aquatic ecosystems are under threat from pharmaceuticals and farming practices such as biocides and fertilisers.

“There is a staggering list of prescription drugs passed from humans to wastewater treatment plants and into receiving streams, estuaries, or oceans by direct consumption, metabolism and excretion or by toilet flushing of old prescriptions.

“The release of human pharmaceuticals into aquatic ecosystems is an environmental problem we should consider seriously.”

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Scientists will now compare the concentrations of these pollutants to those taken at the same sewage discharge locations after discharges had been activated by rainfall.

Dr Tom Miller from Brunel University said: “Chemical pollution from combined sewer overflows is becoming a real cause for concern due to the number of chemicals that are being found all over the environment and not just in the UK.

“It is important that the public are becoming more aware of the problem and it has been a really great opportunity to work with locals in the area and address some of their concerns surrounding the issue.”

It is not the first time that illegal drugs have been found along the Sussex coast - with almost a tonne of cocaine washing up on beaches near Hastings and Newhaven in 2021, with an estimated value of around £80 million.

Rob Bailey, co-founder of the campaign group Clean Harbours Partnership, which raised money for the study, said: “We are starting to get an insight into the cocktail of chemicals polluting our sea water and their sources.

“Some pesticides seem to have been lingering for several years and the presence of partly digested antidepressants, drugs for type 2 diabetes and bladder infections is concerning. So little is known about their impact on marine life.

“The sheer scale of sewage discharges into our water courses has shocked the public. It looks like the debate is set to continue as we learn what’s in the water and how ineffective the authorities have been at managing such obvious threats to our precious environment.”

Southern Water has come under fire in recent years for repeated sewage spills. The firm's CEO forfeited his annual bonus to apologise to affected customers.

The company was fined £90 million in 2021 after dumping sewage illegally thousands of tines over a five year period.