Investigation into 'black, smelly sand' on Exmouth beach
Sunbathers are being told to avoid the area between Orcombe and the lifeboat station
An investigation's underway into what's caused a patch of black smelly sand on Exmouth Beach .
Red flags have been put out on a stretch between Orcombe and the lifeboat station, and people are being advised to avoid visiting that part of the beach.
An East Devon District Council spokesperson said: “We are currently working with the Environment Agency which raised a pollution incident after reports of black sand with a foul odour near an abandoned sewer line at the eastern end of the beach.
"Currently, we are unsure whether this is a result of a sewage pollution, a surface water discharge or a natural occurrence."
South West Water and the Environment Agency are looking into what's happened.