Swimmers have been advised to avoid two popular beaches in Huelva after routine tests found an unsafe level of bacteria in the sea.

The Junta de Andalucia has issued temporary bathing warnings for parts of Punta Umbria and Matalascañas, following the latest results from its summer bathing water monitoring programme.

The affected areas are Pato Amarillo beach in Punta Umbria and Pueblo Andaluz beach in Matalascañas (Almonte).

According to the Junta, laboratory analysis found microbiological levels above the permitted safety thresholds, automatically triggering an investigation into the cause and precautionary measures to protect bathers.

Local councils have been instructed to erect warning signs, install information boards and fly yellow flags in the affected areas to alert beachgoers.

Authorities have also been asked to identify and address the source of the contamination as quickly as possible.

The regional health authority stressed that the current measure is a recommendation not to bathe, rather than an outright ban.

However, officials warned that if further investigations show the contamination is not a temporary incident, they could go a step further and prohibit swimming in the affected areas until the water quality improves.

The beaches will continue to be monitored over the coming days through additional water sampling.

The recommendation will remain in place until new laboratory tests confirm that the water no longer poses a risk to public health and the microbiological levels have returned to normal.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.