People asked to stay away from beach as 'high levels' of E. coli found

People are being asked to stay away from a popular Angus beach after high levels of E. coli were detected in the water.

Angus Council said in a statement on Thursday that the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has discovered the bacteria at Monifieth Beach.

It is currently unknown what caused the contamination at the beach.

E. coli is a bacterial infection that can cause severe illness in people.

Symptoms range from mild loose stools to severe bloody diarrhoea. The most serious complications can lead to blood poisoning and kidney failure.

In dogs, E. coli infection can lead to blood poisoning, or septicemia, and has been found to compound with parvovirus in dogs and puppies, leading to an increased risk of death by parvovirus.

As a precautionary measure, SEPA has asked that people and their pets avoid bathing or paddling in the water near the beach until further notice.

It comes shortly after a major rescue operation at Monifieth Beach on Wednesday, after two dolphins were stranded.

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country