Visitors to Brightlingsea Promenade have been warned to avoid contact with the water in the boating lake after “potentially toxic” algae was found there.

Brightlingsea Town Council says that recent weather conditions have caused the bloom of blue-green algae.

According to the Environment Agency, skin rashes can form after contact, while swallowing can result in serious illness. The algae,  which can look like green flakes, greenish bundles or brownish dots, can kill domestic pets.

Further information on the algae can be found on the Environment Agency website.