National Trust at Formby near Southport issue warning to public of tar balls washing onto beach

Following the recent oil leakage off the North Wales Coast, the ranger team are assessing the impact of pollution at National Trust Formby.

Small balls of tar may wash up on the Sefton Coastline in the coming days and weeks. We're asking visitors to avoid contact with this potentially harmful substance, keeping children and pets away from tar balls on the beach. We have also put up posters on site that warn visitors about this risk.

If you do see tar balls on the beach, you can report this to Green Sefton on [email protected] or 0151 934 2961.

Although it is currently too early to say how this pollution will impact Formby and the wider Sefton Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest, we know that this kind of hydrocarbon pollution can be harmful to wildlife including marine life and seabirds, and to habitats like Formby's ecologically sensitive sand dunes and areas of saltmarsh elsewhere on the Sefton Coast.

We're working with partners including Sefton Council, Natural England, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to monitor the situation as it develops. 

Visit www.sefton.gov.uk/oilspill for the latest updates on this issue and the clean-up operation.