BOURNEMOUTH’S beaches have been peppered with sticky blobs of oil in an environmental mystery.

The globules, which reach the size of 10p pieces, have washed ashore stuck to strands of seaweed.

And the borough council have placed large warning signs on a stretch spanning from Alum Chine to Hengistbury Head urging walkers to be aware of the spots.

Rangers from the seafront office in Boscombe noticed the oil this morning.

Currently, there are no reports of seabirds or other marine creatures washing ashore as a result of the problem.

Jo Pizydiozna, 30, of Springbourne, was walking dog Stitch across the sand at lunchtime.

She said: “I hadn’t noticed the signs.

“I usually take Stitch for a walk much earlier in the day, so it’s unusual for me to be here at this time. It’s not very nice to think he could bring oil inside when we go home.”

Celia Pepper, of Boscombe, said she had noticed oil on the sand around a year ago.

“I was queried oil on the sand some time ago, and was told it was nothing to worry about,” she said.

“I haven’t noticed it myself today while we’ve been walking along.”

A council spokesperson said: “Due to the recent storms, we have noticed some spots of oil washed up along the beachfront in the seaweed.

“Our seafront team are putting some signage up to advise residents to be careful when walking along the beach and we will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days.”

She added that a clean-up operation will take place if the situation gets worse in the coming days.