Anyone out enjoying the sunshine this weekend has been advised not to use the lake at Barton's Point Coastal Park.

The Environment Agency (EA) has carried out an investigation after a number of dead fish were found on its bank.

Staff at the site off Marine Parade, Sheerness, contacted them after visitors started pointing out the state of the water, which had become very cloudy and yellow.

EA officers went along last Wednesday to try to find out the cause.

They took water samples and found a high number of tintinnids, which are micro-organisms covered in little hairs that get into fish’s gills and can suffocate them.

This is the most likely cause of the problem.

The other possibility is that the fish died as a result of an algal bloom or poison which would have had a similar effect, but there is insufficient evidence to say for certain.

Initially Swale council was advised it would be safe for people to continue to use the water, but after another occurance they have decided to warn against it as a precaution.

The EA has been back on site and taken further samples, the results of which are due on Tuesday.

In the meantime, the council has put up signs which say: "Harmful pollution may be present in this water - contact may cause harm to humans and animals."

A spokesman said: "Because of it happening there previously, we didn't want to risk anything so we have decided to put the signs up as a precaution.

"Also due to the amount of people that use the water and the area round it, we wanted them to be aware there may be a problem."