Bacteria puts Dunedin beaches off limits

Dunedin City Council is warning people not to swim, surf or paddle at St Kilda and Middle beaches after water samples showed elevated levels of bacteria.

Test results yesterday showed increased levels of harmful bacteria in the water, council environmental health officers said in a statement today.

People were urged to keep out of the water until further notice.

Water sampling at St Kilda, St Clair and Middle beaches would be done daily and the public notified when tests showed recreatonal activities could safely resume.

The council statement gave no information on the source of the bacteria.

- NZPA