Swimming in Stevenage lake stopped after harmful bacteria detected

The decision to stop the Love Open Water sessions at the main lake in Stevenage's Fairlands Valley Park comes just six months after they first started.

At the time they began, dozens of people voiced concerns over water quality and Weil's disease - carried by rats - with claims the water was stagnant, dirty and potentially contaminated. The organisers, however, said these concerns were "completely unfounded" and that tests carried out prior to the trial event proved the water quality to be excellent.

Now, the swimming sessions have been stopped due to blue-green algae which, despite the name, is not actually algae, but a bacteria called cyanobacteria. It can produce toxins that can make people and animals sick. Symptoms can include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle weakness, dizziness and irritation to skin, eyes, nose and throat. Exposure to some cyanobacterial toxins can even harm your liver and kidneys.

A spokesman for Stevenage Borough Council said: "The swimming sessions that had been running at the main lake in Fairlands Valley Park have paused due to blue-green algae in the water. Once this clears up, we hope the swim sessions can resume as they were."

Love Open Water, however, says its sessions at the Stevenage lake are "closed permanently".

It said: "Stevenage Borough Council has decided to retain management of the lake and its activities going forward, which means we are no longer able to run our open swimming sessions at this location.

"We know this is very disappointing news and we are equally disappointed with this decision. Our team has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to bring safe open water swimming to Stevenage and, with your support, we were building a very solid community."

The council spokesman said there had been "a misunderstanding" and it is hoped Love Open Water will return to organise the open water swimming sessions once the bacteria is no longer contaminating the water.