Two cockle harvesting areas in Argyll and Bute have been temporarily closed due to raised levels of bacteria.

Monitoring work carried out by the council’s environmental health team has identified the raised levels at Castle Stalker, Port Appin and Eriska Shoal.

Notices warning the public and casual gatherers that cockles gathered from these areas may pose a risk to human health and cannot be put on the market have been posted at various locations on the shore.

Commercial shellfish harvesters in these areas have been contacted by the council and steps taken to postpone harvesting until the bacteria levels subside.

The council will continue to monitor the situation, and the warning notices will be removed when the levels have sufficiently dropped.