Cornwall beachgoers urged to AVOID swimming after grim 'slurry pollution' washes up

Members of the public tempted to have a to cool off as temperatures rise this weekend have been told to stay out, owing to pollution fears.

The (EA) says “slurry pollution” flowed into a stream which feeds into a picturesque beach in Cornwall. Mawgan Porth Beach is popular with bathers and dog walkers, but people have been told not to go in the stream as a result of agricultural slurry in the area. Teams are now attempting to contain the issue, the EA said in an urgent update it posted on its social media pages.

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It reads: “Our officers are working with a farmer in Cornwall to contain slurry pollution which entered a stream flowing on to Mawgan Porth beach. 6km of the stream affected, but no sightings of dead fish. If you're on the beach tomorrow, you're advised not to go into the stream.”

Slurry is a liquid or semi-liquid mixture of animal manure and water, used as a natural fertilizer in agriculture. If not managed properly, slurry can pollute water sources. The Environment Agency (EA) regulates slurry pollution through the Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil (SSAFO) regulations, reports.

Several people shared concerns on social media. One said: “You could see the daily brown slick at Fistral and across the bay every day. Lost count of the number of surfers who had ear infections and stomach bugs from it and kids who paddled.”

Another added: “My daughter has had hideous D and V for two consecutive years from swimming at Treyarnon, once ending up in hospital. Lasted for four days first time and, on and off, 10 days the second time. Just awful what's going into our rivers and sea, despite our rising water costs.”

This comes after endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, who became the first person to undertake long-distance swims in every ocean of the , .

The 55-year-old has thrown his support behind the , saying the litter crisis is the "responsibility for each and every one of us." Lewis, the UN's "patron of the oceans", has braved glacial tunnels in Antarctica and at the and witnessed first hand how marine environments are under pressure from plastic pollution.

He told the : “This is the season when everyone starts spending more time outdoors – and it’s also the time when the litter in our streets and verges becomes more apparent. But the truth is, this is not a seasonal problem. It’s an everyday occurrence, and a responsibility for each and every one of us.

“Every time you buy a product that is wrapped in plastic or any kind of packaging, it becomes yours. Your responsibility starts with disposing of packaging properly.”