 Blue green algae thrives when conditions are calm |
Visitors to Windermere in the Lake District are being warned to stay out of the water because of potentially toxic algae. The blue green algae can cause sickness, vomiting and skin irritation.
The Environment Agency said the algae is not unusual in small patches, but the latest occurrence is more widespread and involves public areas.
Notices have been put up around the lake and the situation is being monitored on a regular basis.
Sewage treatment
Jonathon Shadwell, from the Environment Agency, said: "Blue green algae communities are fairly ubiquitous.
"It occurs all over the place in all kinds of water bodies and when conditions are right, when it's calm and there's lots of nutrients, then it takes advantage of it and grow.
"A lot has been done to reduce the frequency. Water sewage treatment can have stripping in it to take out the phosphorus which normally drives these algae communities.
"There is work going on in Bassenthwaite Lake and there are plans to try and bring that into the central lakes such as Windermere later this year to see if there are some important problems we can deal with all our important partners.
"We're realistic, stopping it completely is not possible, managing it, that's what we need to do."
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