A council has handed over its lease on a lake after ‘toxic blue-green algae’ is found in the water.

Water analysis tests carried out by the Environment Agency at the start of July revealed high levels of the ‘toxic’ organism at Canvey Lake in Essex, which is leased to Canvey Island Town Council by Castle Point Borough Council.

However, it was announced last week that Canvey Island Town Council has requested an ‘early surrender’ of its lease on the lake.

According to Canvey Island Town Council, environmental issues and ‘unachievable’ maintenance costs meant that the local authority’s management of the lake became an ‘arduous task’.

Castle Point Borough Council has since confirmed that it is 'minded to support' Canvey Island Town Council's request, 'subject to due diligence and formal execution of legal documents’.

In advance of the handover, Castle Point Borough Council has pledged to produce an action plan that will help to restore the lake’s ‘ecological health’ and ensure ‘ongoing maintenance’ requirements are met.

Cllr Warren Gibson, Deputy Leader of Castle Point Borough Council said: ‘Council officers are actively progressing the work needed and will bring it to members for a formal decision. In the meantime, Castle Point Borough Council continues to support Canvey Island Town Council and is working to facilitate a smooth transition.

‘Canvey Lake is deeply valued by local residents, not only as a surface water attenuation facility (a structure to temporarily store excess rainwater to help prevent flooding) but as a space for leisure and wellbeing.’

‘We’re committed to ensuring the Lake’s future reflects both its environmental importance and its importance to the local community’, Cllr Gibson added.

A spokesperson for Canvey Island Town Council said: 'The Lake has experienced a growing number of challenges over the past few years in common with other watercourses in the country because it is a body of standing water and is not a natural ground fed lake, e.g. climate change and extreme heat.'

'With limited resources and funds to tackle these complex issues, Canvey Island Town Council has asked Castle Point Borough Council to consider taking back the lease', they added.