Dog owners in the Falmouth area have been urged not to let their animals drink from watercourses after allegations of polluted water.

It is after one dog reportedly needed specialist veterinary treatment in Bristol after drinking water from a stream in the Bickland Water area of Falmouth.

A poster has now been put out on social media warning: “Keep your dogs out of the water. Several dogs in the area have been seriously ill over the past week after being in or drinking out of Bickland Water – sewage has been detected in the waterway.”

It urges anyone who spots suspected water contamination to report it to the Environment Agency.

A representative of South West Water confirmed that the company had been made aware of a suspected polluted water course in Falmouth two days before Christmas and an investigation had been carried out.

The company’s press office has been contacted for further details.

It has also been claimed that Stithians Lake contains blue-green algae, which can be harmful to dogs and could potentially be fatal. It has been alleged that another dog also needed treatment after drinking water from the lake.