Lincolnshire coast: Birds die after disinfectant washed up on beaches

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One of the containers found washed upImage source, East Lindsey District Council
Image caption,

A 25-litre container of disinfectant was found alongside the dead birds

The deaths of 12 birds after containers of concentrated disinfectant washed up on Lincolnshire's coastline are being investigated by police.

A container was discovered on Chapel Beach in Chapel St Leonards on Thursday morning alongside the birds.

Four others were found on beaches at Anderby Creek, Mogg's Eye and Skegness.

A spokesperson for East Lindsey District Council said it was not known where the chemicals came from but they were being removed.

The authority urged people to avoid the area and not let pets eat dead wildlife on the beach.

Image caption,

Three containers were found on Thursday and a fourth on Friday morning

Lincolnshire Police said investigations were continuing to determine the nature of the material and the link to the dead birds.

A spokesperson said the birds had since been removed and would be examined by experts from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Image source, East Lindsey District Council
Image caption,

The council has said to take extra care to not let animals eat dead wildlife on the beach

The council said the containers were washed up "due to the wind direction".

A spokesperson said: "Unfortunately we aren't able to guess where these have come from or what damage they may have caused along the way.

"It is sad to think they have made their way into the ocean through dumping or other means and have drifted on the North Sea."

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

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