Red 'do not swim' flags have been raised at the beach in Wells-next-the-Sea in the middle of the town's carnival week.
North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) took the action today (Wednesday, August 2) following advice from the Environment Agency.
A spokesperson for NNDC said: “The council has raised the red ‘do not swim’ flags following a ‘pollution risk forecast alert’ from the Environment Agency.
"This is different from a controlled spillage overflow alert, based on data predictions and modelling.
“We’re awaiting further guidance from the Environment Agency as to when it is safe to remove the red do not swim flags.”
The action comes amid Wells' carnival week, which draws thousands of people to the town, recently dubbed Norfolk's coolest, every year.
It follows red flags being put up at Mundesley beach for around 24 hours in July in what was the 10th sewage overflow incident across north Norfolk's beaches so far this year.
Steffan Aquarone, the Liberal Democrat's prospective parliamentary candidate for North Norfolk, said he was "disgusted and dismayed" to see another beach closed water quality concerns.
“Two weeks ago Gimingham and Mundesley were hit and today the red flags have gone up in Wells-next-the-sea warning people not to enter the water.”
A spokesman from Holkham Estate, which owns Wells beach, said the Environment Agency carried out seawater sample checks across the country every day.
The spokesman said: "Based on these results, together with ten years of data capture, weather forecasts and tide activity, the Environment Agency creates a pollution risk forecast for each location.
"If the forecast predicts elevated bacterial readings, then the RNLI will change the colour of their flag to red and a sign will go up advising visitors against bathing.
"The bacteria at Wells is natural and related to the salt marshes and ‘wash off’ of bird/animal faeces. It is not related to raw sewage."
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “A pollution risk forecast (PRF) has been issued for Wells today. These forecasts are based on rainfall, wind and tidal patterns and alert people when water quality may be poor.
“Throughout the bathing season (May to September) the Environment Agency will issue warnings of any forecasted pollution risk on its Swimfo website.”
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