A sighting of an “oil slick” off the Kent coast has been found to be a false alarm.

However, people are still being advised not to come into contact with what is in fact an “algal bloom” which has the appearance of oil.

The Environmental Agency (EA) is telling people to avoid the naturally occurring substance spotted off Warden Point, on Sheppey, as it can be toxic or cause irritation.

Algal blooms – a type of algae – can lead to coloured scum appearing on the surface of water.

When they start to break down their appearance and smell can be mistaken for pollution.

When the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) reported the slick 12 miles offshore on Sunday, February 4, it was thought to be pollution.

However, after the coastguard attended the scene it was identified it as a natural algal or weed bloom breakdown.

As algae and weeds naturally break down, the “slick” off Sheppey will not need to be cleared.

An EA review and guidance from the World Health Organisation suggests the risks to human health from contact, ingestion or inhalation with marine algae that occur in UK coastal waters is considered to be low.

If a toxic bloom is identified the relevant local authority or landowner will post warning signs.

Meanwhile, if it appears in a designated bathing water site the EA will post advice against bathing on its Swimfo website.

More advice can be found via the EA blogs on Algal blooms by clicking here.An EA spokesman urged the public to continue to report suspected pollution.

He said: “It was reported that fragments of the slick may have come ashore, but inspections by EA officers found no traces of shore pollution in the area.

“We ask people to please report suspected incidents of pollution to our free 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 607080.”