A new £2million sewage treatment works near popular Kilve beach is working fine, Wessex Water said this week.

The company says the new plant will improve the environment along the sensitive West Somerset coastline.

The new works have been built close to the beach car park in the picturesque village and provide an increased level of treatment.

A spokesman said: "The expanded works means effluent discharged from the site is cleaner than ever before.

"We have also taken great care to minimise the impact of the site on this part of the Quantock area of outstanding natural beauty."

Previously sewage from Holford, East Quantoxhead and Kilve was screened at a small primary treatment facility before being discharged to sea through an outfall.

Now a new biological treatment plant has been built to increase the treatment of sewage before it is discharged.

An underground tank has been installed to store storm water during periods of high rainfall before it is treated, while an odour treatment plant has been built to ensure the works do not cause a nuisance to residents or visitors to the coast.

The spokesman added: "The site has been now operational for several weeks while checks have been made to ensure everything is running smoothly.

"Wessex Water will return to the site in the autumn to carry out landscaping work to help the works blend into its surroundings."