AN INVESTIGATION and clean-up is underway after clinical waste was found on a Wirral beach.

Bags containing latex gloves, surgical dressings, along with disposable masks and aprons and an empty mercury bottle were believed to be dumped on the beach in New Brighton.

Local councillor Sue Taylor said it was “disappointing” after the work to market the beach as safe and clean for families.

Last night a spokeswoman for Wirral Council said: “We are investigating where this waste has come from. By the time we received the complaint, the tide was already on its way in, so when the tide has gone out we will ensure the beach is cleaned and remove and dispose of any waste properly.

“We can’t comment on whether any prosecutions will result, as that will depend on the course of our investigations.”

The clean-up was taking place along the beach near Magazine Promenade between Dalmorton Road and Holland Road yesterday.

Yellow and orange clinical waste bags were among the items found.

New Brighton councillor Sue Taylor, who was liaising with environmental health officers, said: “We don’t know if it can be traced, but we will be making every effort to find out where this came from.

“It’s unlikely the bags will contain anything with names and addresses on them.”

It is understood the council has identified the manufacturers of the bags used and will be attempting to discover who they supply.

Cllr Taylor said the clean-up would be carried out to ensure the beach remains suitable for use, but added: “It’s just not what we want after we have worked so hard promoting this area.”

This year in the annual Marine Conservation Society survey of beaches New Brighton was declared among the cleanest in the UK.