Council workers from Wyre Council in the UK wore white suits and masks to remove huge chunks of a mysterious, possibly toxic substance which washed up on the beach at Cleveleys near Blackpool.
Pet owners were warned to keep their animals well away from the area.
Coastguard workers said it is ‘likely’ to be palm oil, which can prove fatal to dogs that lick or eat it, but are now awaiting test results.
The Environment Agency has been drafted in to help investigate the incident, which is being treated seriously by council officials in Wyre
The stinking, yellow substance washing up on the beaches across the Fylde coast has now been confirmed as ‘palm oil’. Lab results show the material ‘has the appearance and characteristics of highly rancid palm oil’, Wyre Council said in a statement. It began washing up at St Annes, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, and Knott End before being spotted at Blackpool too, sparking a warning to pet owners and parents to keep their dogs and children away. “We are continuing our efforts to clear the beaches between Knott End, Fleetwood, and Cleveleys,” the council said. “So far our teams have collected just over a ton (1,200kg) of substance. “Our rangers and cleaning teams are patrolling the beaches to monitor the situation and provide updates regularly.
The beaches remain open, however we advise to keep children supervised and to avoid all contact with palm oil on the beach and in the water due to potential health risks.” Palm oil is toxic to dogs, though harmless to humans.
The strong smell of the oil, which stinks like diesel, makes it an attractive snack for dogs, but it can prove fatal. The source of the spill was not confirmed, with oil also reported in Wales and Cumbria. It is believed a shipwreck off the coast, dating back to 1991 may have released the oil following recent very high tides and storms.