Dog owners warned as palm oil washes up in Cumbria

Dog owners in Cumbria have been been warned after chunks of palm oil washed ashore.

Furness Coastguard said the substance – which is used to clean out fuel tanks on ships – had washed up on Haverigg shore and warned more might wash up.

Palm oil can be released legally by vessels at sea if they are at least 12 nautical miles from the shore, but can collect harmful bacteria and debris from the sea before washing up on beaches.

In a statement, it urged any dog owners which suspect their animals have eaten palm oil to visit the vets, as it is toxic to dogs and can prove to be fatal.

It added that due to the nature of the substance, it is often “irresistible” to pets.