Beaches closed due to E.coli await more tests

Seven Cork beaches closed after a swimming ban was imposed last week due to excessive levels of E.coli will find out this evening if tests will clear them to reopen.

Tourism interests will be crossing their fingers in the hope that levels of the bacteria — which are contained in excrement and can cause serious illness and even death — have dropped below permitted EU safety levels.

However, yesterday the brown discolouration was still very evident in the sea off Youghal’s Front Strand, which had E.coli levels nearly four times the legal limit.