AN urgent “do not swim” warning has been issued at a popular beach after a mystery substance turned the water bright blue.
People have been encouraged to stay out of the water at Littleham Brook in Exmouth, Devon with pollution being blamed for the distinct colour.
The brook feeds into Exmouth beach, leading to the warning to bathers at the popular spot.
The Environment Agency (EA) has advised against bathing but added there was no “visible environmental impacts”.
On Saturday night, the source of the blue pollution was traced to an “industrial source”.
It has since stopped leaking into the river.
Read More on UK News
EXTRA MILE
Best mate of hero A66 cop takes his place in the Great North Run
CRASH PROBE
Teen boy, 16, dies after car crashes into tree as driver, 18, arrested
There was an earlier sewage spill this week near Exmouth’s bathing waters but the EA said the two incidents are not linked.
It’s thought the latest pollution started at just after 8.30pm on September 111.
The EA said it was waiting on a toxicity report on the substance and will lift the warning when it is safe to do so.
A spokesperson for the EA said on X: “A bright blue substance was reported in Littleham Brook, Exmouth.
Most read in The Sun
BRAZIL NUTS
Home Office pays 9,000 Brazilians up to £3k to go home after overstaying visas
ROBO-JUDGE
Criminals freed from jail could have restrictions decided by AI under new rules
SPLASHING CASH
BBC wastes £65k of licence-payers’ cash on taxis, trains & hotels NEVER used
“We attended and found no visible environmental impacts, but issued an advice against bathing as a precaution.
“Overnight it was traced to an industrial source, but it has stopped.
“It is not linked to the sewage network.
“The pollutant is still moving downstream and is likely to reach the bathing water this afternoon.
“We’re awaiting toxicity information, so the advice against bathing on Swimfo remains. We’ll review again later and lift it when safe.”
The EA explained the necessity to have the swim warning on its bathing quality map, saying: “Exmouth bathing water is affected by the catchment surrounding the Littleham Brook, which is approximately 600 hectares, and also by the enormous Exe Estuary catchment which is approximately 150,000 hectares.
“The Littleham Brook is four and a half kilometres long and flows southwest from Littleham Village through Green Farm and Maer Farm to Maer Bridge where it is piped under the beach to the sea at Maer Rocks.”