SHELLFISH beds in Weymouth and Portland faced the threat of closure after tests throughout the South West showed high levels of pollution.

Routine sampling of shellfish beds in parts of the South West over the last three weeks revealed some abnormally high levels of E coli.

Shellfish beds in Devon and the Channel Islands were closed last week after sewage bacteria, thought to be E. coli, was found in Slapton, Taw, Torridge and Jersey, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Experts have said the likely explanation for this is heavy rainfall after thunder storms following a long period of dry weather.

The rainfall and storms washes all kinds of faecal material from the land, domesticated animals and wildlife into streams and drains, which enters the sea from surface water drainage systems.

The Weymouth Port Health Committee have said the only high result for the borough was from a scallop sample taken from a non commercial bed - a bed not being used for production of scallops for human consumption - in Portland Harbour.

This was taken as a routine check sample which is done quarterly.

The authority state that samples taken from the Fleet have ‘not indicated any concern’ but sampling will continue along with the routine sampling programme.

Cllr Paul Kimber, chairman of the Weymouth Port Health Committee, said: “All shellfish beds in Weymouth and Portland have remained open.

“One private fishery voluntarily stopped harvesting between Friday, July 24 and Monday, July 27 as a precaution whilst samples were tested.

“The results of these samples have since come back and proved to be normal.

“We are aware of the high results across parts of the South West and are undertaking additional samples of bivalve molluscs to monitor the situation locally.

“If we have results necessitating bed closure, a press release will be issued giving the details.”

The news comes after shellfish from the Dorset coastline were found to contain traces of a potentially deadly toxin in May last year.

Sampling of scallops showed levels of the ASP toxin well above the maximum permitted legal level of 20mgs.

Levels dropped throughout 2014 but generally remained above the permitted level. Earlier this year experts said they were continuing to monitor the situation.

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