Four poor results have been received from Cobo’s shores in the last six weeks – though strangely, upon a re-test the water quickly returned to a good or excellent standard.

While the water in the western bay is usually perfectly safe for bathing, a spokesman for Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services [ACLMS] said they cannot provide the “level of certainty” they would wish.

“As always, we would recommend that the public maintain good hand hygiene after visiting the beach,” they added. 

Poor water quality can sometimes be associated with runoff from heavy rainfall, however, a reason for the fluctuation has not yet been ascertained. Investigations are currently underway, which involve checking public toilets and using red dye to track possible sources.

Members of the public who may have useful information are asked to contact the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation either at envhealth@gov.gg or by phone on 01481 711161.