An Argyll and Bute bay popular with cockle pickers has been temporarily closed to shellfish harvesting because of raised levels of bacteria.

Monitoring work carried out by the council’s environmental health team service has identified raised levels of bacteria at Kildalloig Bay near Campbeltown.

Cockles from this area may pose a risk to human health and cannot be put on the market. Notices to warn the public and casual gatherers have been posted at various locations on the shore.

Commercial shellfish harvesters in these areas have been contacted by the council, and steps have been taken to postpone harvesting until microbiological level subsides.

The council will continue to monitor the situation. When the levels sufficiently reduce, the warning notices will be removed.

For further information, please contact the council’s environmental health team on 01631 567920.