Fife beaches reopen to swimmers as bacteria alert lifted

Two Fife beaches have re-opened to swimmers after being shut due to high levels of bacteria in the water.

Bathers were told to stay away from Kinghorn Harbour and Burntisland after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) detected "faecal indicator organisms".

Sepa said that following further tests it was satisfied there was no evidence of any pollution.

The agency said it suspected the contamination was weather-related.

Members of the public were told on Wednesday to avoid the beaches, which had been visited by hundreds of people enjoying warm weather over the weekend.

Sepa tests Scotland's waters for "faecal indicator organisms" E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

Having initially detected high levels, the agency said it believed the water quality was "no longer impacted" by pollution.

It said in a statement: "We suspect the cause of the high results was related to the wet weather following a sustained dry period on Monday.

"However, our officers will continue to investigate for any obvious causes."

Sepa added that an electronic sign at Kinghorn had been changed to advise bathing and paddling could resume, and that Fife Coast and Countryside Trust had removed the signs at both beaches.