Sea swimmers have been advised against bathing at four County Down beaches due to poor water quality.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said during routine monitoring, sites breached action levels for the bacteria Escherichia coli (E.Coli).
Warning signage is in place at the affected sites at Brompton, Ballyholme, Donaghadee and Crawfordsburn.
There was a sign at Helen’s Bay, but Daera said this was put up in error.
It added that heavy rainfall is known to impact water quality, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Emergency Pollution team is investigating the bathing water failures.
Ards and North Down Borough Council said it had been notified of the water quality failures at Ballyholme, Brompton and Donaghadee.
