A second warning advising beachgoers to stay away from a popular coastal stretch has been lifted.

Beachgoers had been advised not to enter the water at Westbrook, St Mildred’s Bay, West Bay and Minnis Bay beaches after “dark-coloured organic matter” was found washed up.

Thanet District Council (TDC) released the advice to people around 4pm yesterday evening.

But the authority has today lifted its advice against bathing at the beaches.

It said in a statement: "Advice against bathing at Minnis Bay, West Bay, St Mildred’s Bay and Westbrook Bay has now been lifted.

"The advice was put in place on Thursday 30 May, following reports of organic matter that had washed up along the North Thanet Coast.

"Our teams are removing the signs from the bays."

The council has not confirmed what the reported substance turned out to be.

A visitor who found the substance described it as “squidgy and smelling awful” and said it looked like “the result of a chemical spillage”.

However, a statement issued by the council yesterday said it was “not oil” and “did not appear to be the same substance as previously found at Minnis Bay earlier this month”.

This came just one day after advice against bathing at Minnis Bay was lifted over a separate issue.

Pollution warnings were first issued there more than a week ago after reports thousands of dead ragworms, lugworms and shellfish were found on the shore.

The Environment Agency (EA) told seaside visitors to stay out of the water at Birchington-on-Sea and West Bay as a precaution.

However, the EA then lifted its advice against bathing at Minnis Bay and West Bay as well as St Mildred’s Bay, Westbrook and Margate.

Following test results on May 24, the agency declared test results showed “the material in the affected area is not toxic”.

Yet the council continued to advise against bathing at Minnis Bay due to the ongoing presence of residue from algae - until yesterday.

It was due to the naturally occurring bloom having an unpleasant odour and being able to cause skin irritation.

Business owners ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend spoke of their concerns about a lack of passing trade.

Tony Hobbs, who works at the West Bay Kiosk, said the lack of information has been damaging.

He told KentOnline there had been “no information” leading up to last weekend, adding: “I feel for the people who use the beach huts because hearing that the beach is closed causes them worry.

“Normally, even on a quiet day, I’d take about £80 ,but today, I’ll be lucky if I take £30.

“You lose punters because they don’t want to walk here, especially dog walkers because they aren’t allowed on the beach.”