LAST month, the owner of a Bridgwater-based dog walking business noticed the likely presence of blue-green algae in the Durleigh Brook.

Michelle Orriss, owner of Paws Outdoors, began providing regular Facebook updates on the situation from August 8, when she noticed blue-green swirls in the water associated with a 'bloom' of blue-green algae.

Michelle even used makeshift signs to warn other dog-walkers of the potentially life threatening bacteria in the water.

Although the water has since appeared to clear, the bacteria associated with the algae is not visible to the naked eye, so could still be present at the popular dog walking spot.

The Environment Agency was notified immediately and has since issued a statement regarding the situation.

A spokesperon said: "The Environment Agency does not provide an algae sampling service in the Wessex area.

"This is the responsibility of the landowner.

"Equally, warning signs are the responsibility of the landowner and/or the local authority."

Dog walkers in the area are still urged to proceed with caution until concrete evidence of the bacteria's demise is confirmed.