Sefton Council is advising members of the public not to swim near Southport beach after animal waste washed up on the coastline overnight.
OTS News received reports this morning from a concerned member of the public who said that piles of faecal matter could be seen “for miles” on the seafront between Ainsdale and Formby.
The Council also says that dogs could be at risk if they ingest any of the harmful waste.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We have been made aware of the presence of sheep faeces on the beach strandline near Southport.
“This type of occurrence is not uncommon and is the result of an extended period of high tides in the area.
“Strong tides wash up onto the agricultural marshland upstream of the River Ribble, where lots of sheep will graze.
“When the tide starts to recede, it takes with it faeces and other organic material from the marsh floor, which will then float around the estuary.
“Eventually this material will be washed ashore elsewhere on the North West coastline during a subsequent high tide, in this instance at Southport.
“We have reported the presence of this organic material to the Environment Agency and we are currently advising against sea bathing off Southport beach.
“We would also advise dog walkers to keep their pets under control to ensure they do not ingest sheep faeces, as it may cause some discomfort.
“We are continuing to monitor this issue and we expect the organic material to quickly breakdown as part of the natural ecosystem.”
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