Lake at Delamere Forest is closed for summer after bloom of harmful blue-green algae

Hatchmere off Delamere Road near Norley has been closed to swimmers and dogs, with fears that the blue green algae growing in the lake could be extremely harmful to humans and could even be lethal to animals.

Kevin Feeney, living landscape officer at Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’ve got an algal bloom in the water which is caused by many things but it’s mainly a mixture of the hot weather we’ve been heavy and the increase in disturbance in the water by swimmers.

“It can cause quite serious health issues, so I’d urge anyone to respect the signs put up around the lake and do not enter the water."

Blue-green algae are capable of producing several different toxins. People may be exposed to these toxins through contact with the skin (e.g. when swimming), through inhalation (e.g. when motor boating or water skiing), or by swallowing contaminated water.

According to the NHS, these toxins can cause skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains, fever and headaches. Occasionally they can cause more serious illness such as liver and brain damage. Children are at greater risk than adults of developing problems because of their comparative lower body weight.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust are constantly working on the water at Hatchmere to keep harmful bacteria such as blue-green algae at bay. But the lake is now expected to be closed for the rest of the summer while the algae is removed.

READ>Tatton MP Esther McVey back in Government as Boris Johnson's new cabinet meets

Kevin added: “This water is very important to us. It’s a wetland site of international importance, so we’re constantly working on it to keep the water clean.”

Hatchmere is one of a series of lakes and peatlands across the north west formed by the glacial action at the end of the last Ice Age, and part of the North West Midlands Meres and Mosses Ramsar site, a wetland site of international importance.