Sewage did not cause a surge in bacterial pollution which made Portobello beach unsafe for swimmers, according to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa).

The agency issued a warning on 10 July, advising swimmers to avoid bathing at a section of the Edinburgh beach until further notice.

Further sampling on 11 July following the advisory notice showed water quality was “back to normal” according to Sepa, indicating a “short-lived event that had no lasting impact”.

The agency said long term sampling of water from the site has shown the main sources of pollution there to be human, dog and gull waste.