The current system of pumping the island's raw effluent out to sea at Belle Greve has been criticised by environmental campaigners.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) claim it is inadequate and that water quality has worsened in the past 10 years.

Now Public Services Minister, Bill Bell, has said he is open-minded and the time may be right for change.

He said: "There are two extremes. Do nothing more than we're doing - some people say the natural system works very well.

"The other extreme is to spend �50m of capital and another �1.5m to service it.

"Somewhere in between, I suspect, is the answer."