United Utilities issues statement after 'mysterious brown sludge' washes up on Blackpool shore

United Utilities has spoken out following concerns surrounding a 'mysterious brown sludge' which washed up on Blackpool's shore. The substance emerged towards the end of last week following heavy rain.

Locals began questioning where the substance had come from on social media. It came four months after a swimming ban hit the Lancashire coast due to a sewage leak.

And some residents feared a repeat of sewage emerging on the shore last week. But following visits to the seaside resort, United Utilities has now assured residents the substance is safe, Lancs Live reports.

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According to the utilities company, the dark sludge is a combination of seaweed, silt and marine algae, that had been washed down from the River Ribble. This was due to the river breaking its banks the previous evening, with the mixture giving a 'brown and frothy' appearance.

Yesterday (Monday, October 9), River Rangers from United Utilities visited the beach and noted that it looked 'clear' with patches of seaweed visible. He also busied himself with some litter picking whilst on the visit, removing plastic bottles and other items.

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The material that has washed up on the beach is a combination of silt and vegetation that was washed into the sea from local rivers during the exceptionally heavy rainfall the previous evening, seaweed and marine algae that looks brown and frothy and is sometimes mistaken for sewage.” Many Blackpool residents had speculated that it could have been sewage, particularly due to an increase in sewage