Environment Agency figures show the storm overflow near How Hill, in the heart of the Broads, recorded 4,359 hours of 'spills' in 2024 - equivalent to 180 days - into the River Ant.

In the whole of the Broads, spills occurred on 1,162 occasions, lasting a total of 8,913 hours.

The sewage works at Knackers Wood, near Ludham Bridge (Image: Denise Bradley)

The releases came from storm overflows, which dump untreated sewage into rivers and the sea, usually during periods of heavy rainfall to stop sewers from backing up and flooding.

Spills from the Knackers Wood sewage works - which empty into the Ant between How Hill and Ludham Bridge - were more than double the amount in the previous year.

An aerial view of How Hill house (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

As a whole, releases across Norfolk rose by 20pc.

The firm blamed high water levels obscuring the data from its sensors at Knackers Wood and said extreme weather at the start of the year accounted for 50pc of its spills.

Just visible on the River Ant upsteam from Ludham Bridge at Knackers Wood, the warning sign: 'Warning Outfall Structure Keep Out.' (Image: Denise Bradley)

BROADS TAKES BATTERING

The Knackers Woods storm overflow is located on a bend of the River Ant between Ludham Bridge and How Hill, one of the Broads' best known landmarks.

How Hill itself is run by an education charity, while the surrounding area is a renowned nature reserve.

The pipe is linked to a sewage treatment works in the parish of Horning.

The Knackers Wood sewage treatment works, near Ludham Bridge (Image: Denise Bradley)

Locals said they saw Anglian Water engineers visiting the site last week when the data was released. Wherry Albion passing St Benets Abbey, close to where the Ant flows into the Bure (Image: Mike........

© Norwich Evening News