Pet owners and parents have been urged to stay away from the water at Canvey Lake due to high levels of blue-green algae.

Canvey Town Council is warning residents to keep pets and children away from the water due to high levels of blue-green algae present in the lake.

What is blue-green algae and why can it be harmful to pets?

Algae occurs naturally in waters such as rivers, streams, and lakes. During a bloom, the water becomes less clear and may look green, blue-green, or greenish brown and scums can form during calm weather when several bloom forming species rise to the surface.

Cyanobacteria or ‘blue-green algae’, a type of blooming algae, can produce toxins. These toxins can kill wild animals and pets and can also be harmful to people, producing rashes after skin contact and illnesses if swallowed.

'Keep your children away'

Canvey Lake is not a bathing lake and fishing is banned. Therefore, the town council has reassured the risk to residents is limited as long as they stay away from the water.

Canvey town mayor, Elaine Harvey, said: “Due to the location of the lake it is very difficult to close the lake to the public, therefore, please read the signage around the lake, keep your dogs on leads and keep your children away from the water.”

For more information, visit www.canveyisland-tc.gov.uk.