Swimming in the inner part of Xlendi Bay has been banned after machinery late yesterday burst a sewage pipe, causing sewage to flow down the valley towards the beach.

A reader who yesterday sent the above picture to timesofmalta.com said sewage had been flowing 'like a river'.

The damage was caused during road works.

The Ministry for Gozo said the machinery had damaged a rising main which carries sewage to the sewage treatment plant at Ras il-Hobz.

Workers from the Works Department, the Water Services Corporation, the Health Department and the Civil Protection Department were employed well into the night to repair the damage and clean and disinfect the area. They attempted, as much as possible, to prevent the sewage from flowing into the sea.

The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, was also on the scene.

The ministry said bathing water tests were being conducted to make sure that there was no contamination. However since the results will take some hours, swimming in the inner side of the bay today is not being recommended.