UNSAFE levels of sewage have been found in samples of bathing water taken at Loch Lomond, according to Scotland's environmental watchdog.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) sampled the water at Luss - and 88 other bathing spots around Scotland - between five and 18 times over the course of the summer, from May to mid-September.

SEPA says 'very high' concentrations of E.colin and intestinal enterococci (IE) - both found in animal faeces - were found in water samples taken in Luss, earning the village's beach a 'poor' rating.

European standards require bathing waters to be rated either excellent, good, sufficient, or poor and any coastal water rated poor – with fewer than 500 colony-forming units (CFU) for E-coli and less than 185 CFU for IE – must advise against swimming.

A key influence on bathing water quality, at Luss and many other locations around Scotland, is levels of 'agricultural run-off' - faeces from farm animals - which is frequently washed from fields into rivers, streams and burns during spells of heavy rain.

While a record number of bathing waters have been rated as excellent, 50 of the 89 areas tested by SEPA were found to have unsafe levels of sewage.

Additionally, the Scottish Government noted 87 per cent of the country’s water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ quality, but stated they “strive for further improvement”.

A government spokeswoman said: “We take the issue of sewage pollution incidents very seriously.

“Comprehensive monitoring of our water environment is already undertaken by SEPA to assess water quality, water quantity (flows and levels), physical condition and ecology which are combined to produce an overall classification.

“Eighty-seven per cent of Scotland’s entire water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a ‘high’ or ‘good’ classification for water quality – up from 82 per cent six years ago.

“The results of those assessments are high and we continue to strive for further improvement.”

A spokesperson for utility company Scottish Water said: “Not every case of high levels of contamination at a bathing water is associated with Scottish Water discharges because some bathing waters have no Scottish Water discharges nearby. Agricultural run-off can often be a significant factor.

“Scottish Water ensures its assets are performing properly before and during the bathing season.

“Whenever there is a high result, meeting the agreed trigger level, we carry out investigations to ensure our assets are operating as intended.

“We check our assets’ performance before and during the bathing season and carry out any remedial action required.

“We also review asset performance after any high result that meets agreed trigger levels.

“Scottish Water is committed to continuing to support the protection and improvement of rivers, coastal waters and beaches, and we were pleased to hear from SEPA this summer that there are more bathing waters than ever before and a record number were rated excellent.”