Suspected oil spill at Hythe beach was 'natural algae', coastguard confirms
16:34, 16 August 2020
updated: 16:51, 16 August 2020
The coastguard was called out to reports of a suspected oil spill at a beach - but the substance turned out to be "natural algae".
One beach-goer told KentOnline that people were warned not to go into the water at Fisherman's Beach in Hythe yesterday.
Rumours have been circulating on social media over the past 24 hours that there was oil in the sea.
A spokesman for the coastguard confirmed they were called at about 2pm to a report of "possible pollution".
The team found the substance in the water and sent a picture to the Environment Agency, who were content it was algae.
The coastguard left the scene at about 7pm.
The Hythe incident comes as Dover harbour has been closed to swimmers after "above normal" levels of E-coli were discovered in the water.
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