Update: Three miles of Yorkshire beach sealed off after ‘white granules’ washed up

POLICE today closed a three-mile stretch of beach on the Yorkshire coast after a large number of suspicious “white granules” were washed up on the shoreline.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Apr 2011, 16:43 BST

Officers urged the public to stay away from the beach at Hunmanby Gap near Filey.

Police were called by the coastguard at around 1.45pm today after the cargo, described by police as “white granules of an unknown nature” was spotted.

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A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “As a precaution, the beach has been closed to members of the public and we are asking people to observe the closures until the precise nature of the items has been identified and officers are satisfied there is no longer a health risk.

“Until we have established the nature of the granules and are satisfied that they are not harmful to anyone, the beach will remain closed.

“Police are working with the coastguard, fire service, Environment Agency, Health Protection Agency and Scarborough Borough Council to clear the beach and to establish the exact nature of the items and how they came to be washed up on the beach.”

Police have asked anyone who finds any packages to report them on 0845 60 60 247.

Related topics:PoliceYorkshireNorth Yorkshire PoliceFileyEnvironment Agency