DOG walkers were first urged to stay away from the Durleigh Brook a month ago, when a local dog owner noticed the presence of toxic bacteria in the water.

Michelle Orriss, owner of Bridgwater-based dog walking business Paws Outdoors, noticed something was wrong with the water at the popular dog walking spot on August 8.

She suspected blue-green algae was present in the water, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, but blooms after periods of warm weather and produces blue-green swirls in the water.

The type of bacteria associated with this algae can kill dogs within minutes, according to The Kennel Club.

Michelle immediately contacted the Environment Agency, and shared a Facebook post to warn other dog owners of this often unknown but serious threat to pets' welfare.

The toxic bacteria is naturally occuring, and thrives during and after sunny, warm weather, especially in water that is not free flowing - almost the exact conditions provided by the Durleigh Brook at the time it was noticed.

Michelle was desperate to inform local dog-owners of the issue as quickly as possible, and even created her own signs to warn those walking through the area.

The signs, which were cable tied to a nearby fence, read: "Suspected algae in Durleigh Brook. If your dog comes into contact with the water please contact your vet immediately."

In attempt to raise awareness, Michelle returned to the spot and monitored the visual appearance of the algae in the water over the next few weeks, sharing updates via the Paws Outdoors Facebook page.

“I wanted to get it out there… by the time you get to the stream the dog could already be in,” she said.

“I’m an animal lover, the thought of a dog being killed by that is heartbreaking, the suffering for the dog and the suffering for families because the dog is the heart of most homes.

“When it's something you know could be preventable… I just felt that was something I’d seen and I could do.

“I like to be accountable for things, so I followed up with the updates when possible.

“Having the dog walking businesses as a platform means you can get to more people."

The water in the Durleigh Brook is now running clear, showing a definite reduction of the blue-green algae levels in the water.

It also appears to be unclogged due to a routine clearing. 

Michelle has since removed her signs, and provided an update on Facebook, but warns that the bacteria itself is not visible to the naked eye, so could still remain in the water.

Due to the current heatwave, it is entirely possible that the algae could once again thrive in the sunny conditions and bloom in the coming weeks.

Dog owners should proceed with caution if walking near the Durleigh Brook.