The local coastguard team searched the area and surrounding beaches
The coastguard team searched the beach earlier today(Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team)
An investigation is underway after what was found on a Merseyside beach. The Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) were called to New Brighton earlier today after reports that a a large number of small balls had washed up on the beach.
This raised public concerns about possible pollution on the banks of the River Mersey. The CRT carried out a sweep of the surrounding beaches to assess how much material had come ashore. Images and information have been collated and passed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Counter Pollution Team for further investigation.
Wirral Council and the local port authority are also being informed.
Small balls found on beaches cause significant environmental damage by harming wildlife and creating persistent, difficult-to-remove pollution.
The small balls washed up on New Brighton beach(Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team)
Sea animals may mistake small balls for food.
Eating them gives them a feeling of being full, leading to starvation and death.
Depending on what is in them, they could be harmful to humans and other animals such as dogs.
A further issue is that they can be very difficult to remove from beaches and oceans, increasing pollution.
The small balls have raised concerns about possible pollution(Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team)
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