Cumbrian MP Tim Farron challenged the Environment Secretary over sewage spills in Windermere on the floor of the House of Commons.

The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale urged the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Steve Reed to take urgent action to protect Windermere from sewage dumping.

According to the Save Windermere campaign group, sewage was discharged for eight continuous hours on Monday from the pumping station on Glebe Road in Bowness as a result of heavy rainfall caused by Storm Bert.

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Speaking during a ministerial statement in Parliament on Storm Bert, Mr Farron said: "Storm events also have an impact on our sewerage networks.

"Research by the Save Windermere campaign estimates that storm overflows discharging untreated sewage into our lake began at 3.21am this morning and by midday could have reached a volume of 7 million litres.

“Will the Government speed up action to prevent egregious storm overflows like that across our country?”

Mr Reed said: "The honourable Gentleman mentioned storm overflows. When we have these more severe episodes of rain, it is extremely distressing to see more storm overflows discharging sewage into rivers, lakes and seas.

"Sir Jon Cunliffe is leading a wider review into the failures of governance and regulation that have led to this situation, and I am sure that the honourable gentleman and Liberal Democrat Members will engage with that.

"In addition, we are requiring every single outflow to be monitored so that we know what is going into our rivers and can take appropriate action, including through the strengthened powers under the Water (Special Measures) Bill."

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In May of this year, documents from water company United Utilities seen by the BBC showed that a fault at a pumping station in Bowness-on-Windermere left sewage being illegally pumped into the famous lake for 10 hours in February.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: "We understand people’s concerns about the operation of storm overflows and we are already significantly reducing their use, alongside proposing the largest environmental investment in a century across the north west over the next five years.

"In Windermere we have, so far, invested £75 million upgrading wastewater treatment sites and pumping stations and have proposed a further investment of £200m over the next five years to tackle and reduce spills from all storm overflows and further improve water quality in the lake.

"We continue to work with all organisations and individuals that impact water quality including farmers, septic tank owners, hotels, campsites, highways authorities and landowners to help deliver the step change we all want to see."