Dogs banned from lake as blue-green algae spotted

Blue-green algae are toxic to animals and can cause illness in humans (file picture)

Dogs have been banned from a lake in a park after potentially dangerous algae was spotted.

Milton Country Park near Cambridge posted a warning to say Todd's Pit lake, one of several in the park, had the "first signs of blue-green algae".

Blooms of the algae - or cyanobacteria - create toxins that can kill animals, and cause symptoms such as rashes and vomiting in humans.

The park said all watersports had been moved to the other lakes "for the foreseeable future".

The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology states that: "Blue-green algae can produce potent toxins that can result in a range of health effects in people and animals.

"Effects on people coming into contact with toxic scums include skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints.

"Blue-green algae have caused the deaths of dogs, horses, cattle, birds and fish across the UK."

A picture from September 2021 shows blue-green algae which was found in Todd's Pit in the park