No bathing at Portstewart Strand after blue-green algae found on beach

Daera advise the public to avoid all beach scums and keep pets at a safe distance

People have been warned not to swim at one of Northern Ireland's best-known bathing sites after a "significant" amount of blue-green algae scum was detected in the water and also on the beach.

Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said the scum detected at Portstewart Strand on Monday posed "potential health risks".

It has advised the public not to enter the water and to keep pets "at a safe distance" from any scum on the beach.

Exposure to high levels of any blue-green algae blooms can cause illness in humans but it can also result in the death of animals.

The presence of blue-green algae in Northern Ireland's waterways has posed a significant problem in recent years.

In a statement, Daera said the latest detection was made following routine sampling at Portstewart on Monday.

The strand is managed by the National Trust.

Daera said it advised the trust to issue an "advice against bathing" notice at the County Londonderry beach until further notice.

Concern over blue-green algae initially came to prominance when parts of Lough Neagh turned green three summers ago.

It is the largest body of fresh water in the British Isles and blue-green algae has been detected in the lough intermittently over the past six decades.

However, the past three summers have seen the biggest blooms since the 1970s.

Humans who come into contact with blue-green algae can suffer from diarrhoea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.

For animals, contact can sometimes prove fatal and in 2023 a small number of dog deaths were reported after the animals swam in affected waters.