The SAS protest follows a damning report by the Environment Agency

Cornish members of Surfers against Sewage confronted the company's staff, saying more must be done to improve environmental standards of beach waters.

South West Water was named by the Environment Agency last month as a "significant repeat offender" for pollution incidents in 2002.

The company was prosecuted for 14 pollution incidents last year, the second highest number for a water firm, and fined a total of �46,000.

Richard Hardy, SAS campaigns assistant, said: "There appears to be problems with storm overflows after heavy rain which has affected beach water quality.

"More work needs to be done and we want to see improvements."

Bathing water

Dr Stephen Bird, operations director for South West Water, said: "We recognise their concerns and have been working for many years with them.

"The good news is that we have the best bathing water quality in England and Wales.

"But we are not at 100% and we are always looking to improve things."

He added: "Even the Environment Agency report said that river water quality in the South West was the best in England.

"But there were criticisms and we have taken them on board and we are doing everything we can to ensure that pollution incidents are minimised."