RUMOURS that oil had been found on the beach at Bournemouth have been quashed by the council.

Members of the public had reported on social media that they had seen black residue on the shoreline at Bournemouth.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth council said: “We would like to make it absolutely clear this is not oil. The residue you see is silt deposits and dead seaweed washed ashore, normal for this time of year, especially after stormy weather.”

They added: “Rest assured we will continue to monitor our shoreline.”

The reports came following the arrival of the ENSCO 72 oil rig in Poole Bay at the start of last month.

Corallian Energy will continue drilling an appraisal well in the ‘Colter Prospect’ until the end of March.

It is thought Colter South could yield 15 million barrels of oil.

Last month, the Environment Agency said it was investigating a report of oil on the beach at Milford on Sea.