SEVEN CORK BEACHES are set to keep their waters closed to swimmers until Thursday amid concerns about E.coli.

An advisory against swimming in the water at seven different beaches was put in place last week when the levels of E.coli found in the water were found to exceed EU limits.

On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland Declan Daly, divisional manager from Cork County Council, said that authorities hoped to have the beaches reopened late tomorrow for use on Thursday.

The affected beaches include Redbarn, the Front Strand and Claycastle in Youghal; Garretstown, near Kinsale; Garryvoe, near Castlemartyr; Coolmaine, near Kilbrittain; and Oysterhaven.

He said that he was “fairly confident” that levels of E.coli contamination in the water will drop and added that heavy rainfall had led to a spike in results.

Daly said that the issues had arisen out of a combination of factors including the run off from slurry being spread by local farmers.

He added that the “quality of the water is generally very good in Cork and the south of the country”.

The Health Service Executive and the Environmental Protection Agency have been consulted over the levels of E.coli at the beaches.

Read: Further tests due on waters from Cork E.coli beaches