Potentially harmful blue-green algae has been discovered in a river on the Shropshire border, it was revealed today.

Environment Agency (EA) officers made the discovery in the River Meese in the Newport area. The algae, which can be harmful to humans and animals, was also discovered in Aqualate Mere, near Forton, and just over the border into Staffordshire on Monday.

Environmental health officials at Stafford Borough Council have now been notified.

Towards the end of last week it was believed thousands of fish had died after the river turned a blue colour, due to increasing algae activity caused by the hot weather, which exhausted much of the dissolved oxygen in the water.

EA officers examined the algae and identified it as a non-harmful species. The general appearance and colour were not typical of a blue-green algae bloom.

The river was re-oxygenated and the situation was believed to be improving.

However, when EA officials re-visited the river on Monday, they discovered a second, different, algal bloom.

Further inspection revealed it showed characteristics typical of blue-green algae, which can be harmful to humans and animals.

An EA spokesman said: “It was tested in a laboratory, where it was confirmed the concentration of blue-green algae was just above the threshold for us to issue a warning to the local environmental health department which will consider what public health advice is required, if any.”

By Lisa Rowley