LONDON’S new super sewer, designed to protect the River Thames from sewage pollution well into the future, has opened.

The first valves at four of a total of 21 sites, which operate like giant gates, along the seven metre-wide tunnel have opened.

The rest are due to come online in the coming months, when the sewer will reach full operating capacity.

Data shows that when London saw heavy rainfall on September 23, almost 600,000 metres squared of sewage was captured by the London Tideway Tunnel in one 24-hour period with the first four connections activated.

The super sewer, which is 25km long, was connected to the 6.7km Lee tunnel in May, completing the full London Tideway Tunnel network.

The system will intercept, store and ultimately transfer sewage waste away from the River Thames with a combined capacity of 1.6 million metres squared.