Beach find could be vegetable fat

Cwmtydu beach was popular with smugglers centuries ago

A yellow waxy substance washed up on a popular Ceredigion beach could be decomposing vegetable fat, says a council.

Cwmtydu beach, near New Quay, was sealed off by police on Tuesday following the discovery.

Ceredigion Council said similar deposits had been discovered on beaches in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

It added that samples were being tested and results were expected later.

Environmental health officials wearing chemical suits and firefighters helped clear the substance off Cwmtydu beach on Tuesday.

The council described the material as "foul-smelling" and said deposits were smaller in size than a football.

A council spokeswoman said: "Investigations revealed that similar deposits have recently been deposited on beaches in the counties of Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

"The material found in Cwmtydu appears to be similar to that recently reported on other south Wales beaches which was found to be vegetable fat in an advanced stage of decomposition.

"Steps are now being taken to analyse the material found in Cwmtydu.

"In the meantime visitors to Ceredigion beaches are being asked not to handle the substance if further deposits are found."

Popular with smugglers centuries ago and U-boat commanders in World War I, Cwmtydu beach is also a breeding ground for endangered Atlantic grey seals.