The Environment Agency (EA) has issued a "do not swim" warning for Exmouth Beach in Devon after pollution from an industrial source turned the water in nearby Littleham Brook bright blue.
The blue substance was first reported in Littleham Brook just after 8:30pm on September 11. The EA traced the source to an industrial leak on Saturday night, and the discharge has since stopped.
No visible environmental impacts
An EA spokesperson said in a post on X: "A bright blue substance was reported in Littleham Brook, Exmouth. 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 spokesperson added: "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."
Separate sewage spill not linked
The warning follows a separate sewage spill near Exmouth's bathing waters earlier this week, although the EA confirmed the two incidents are not linked.
In an explanation on its interactive bathing quality map, the EA said: "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."
