FENCING has been erected around Clarence Lido in a bid to protect people and pets from the toxic effects of a worsening algal bloom problem.

Fish will be temporarily moved from the pool and water drained, to allow for a massive clean-up operation.

Recent weather has allowed blue-green algae to grow in the pond at an alarming rate, since traces of it were discovered earlier this summer.

The algae form poisonous floating blooms that harm humans and animals, causing eye irritation, rashes, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as muscle and joint pains.

Security barriers, complete with "biological hazard" signs, were erected around the pool late last week.

The move came in response to deepening health concerns from environmental health bosses and the Environment Agency.

Head of client services Mr Martin Hall, who is responsible for the Lido, said: "The blue-green algae has got to the stage where it is blooming and becoming very strong.

"Obviously, we have had to take precautions to keep people, and in particular dogs, away from the water."

And a lack of oxygen in the pool encouraging algal growth has exacerbated the problem.

Mr Hall said: "We have treated the water but that just hasn't worked. One of the biggest problems is that the Lido is now just a free standing pool, not free-flowing as it once was.

"There are no plants and the pond is massively overstocked with fish, so the balance of nutrients in the pond is such that there is very little oxygen in the water."

Fish stocks will now be moved to alternative stretches of water, to allow a full-scale water cleansing programme to take place.

Consultants will also look at a long-term solution to the problem, which has surfaced over the last few summers at the pool, used by model boat enthusiasts and anglers.

Mr Hall said: "What we want to do is to look at a long-term solution and review the current uses of the Lido."

"We would ideally like to create some form of through-flow if we can, but at the moment we're struggling to find a way of doing that."