DEADLY algae has been found in a popular pond and dog walkers have been warned to keep their pets out of the water.

Residents said more than 30 dead fish have been pulled from the water, which Brighton and Hove City Council has warned contains toxins which could kill pets and livestock.

The Argus visited Falmer village pond yesterday and could find only five small A4 signs dotted around the edge of the pond, none of which convey the severity of the danger.

Dog walker Jenny Boyce, 52, said: “I think they should warn us more, if it’s so dangerous.

“Those signs aren’t strong enough and they’re quite a long way apart.

“There should be more signs and they should say if there’s potentially life- threatening toxins.

“We started seeing dead fish a couple of weeks ago. They fished 15 out I heard, then another 17.”

The large pond, nestled at the foot of the Downs beside St Laurence’s Church near The Amex Stadium, has long been popular with tourists and dog walkers. But test results have shown the pond is contaminated with blue-green algae.

The pond is just across the municipal border in Lewes district but the land is owned Brighton and Hove City Council which is responsible for its upkeep.

The council has put up warning signs and a spokesman said it was working closely with the Environment Agency to resolve the situation.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the environment committee, said: “It’s extremely important people are aware of this blue-green algae and the danger it poses to themselves and their pets.

“Many dog walkers allow their pets to run into the pond, but we would urge them to stay clear until the signage comes down and we say the pond is safe again.”

One of the main reasons for algae developing in the pond is visitors feeding the birds and fish which maintains high levels of nutrients in the pond, resulting in algae blooms. The blooms produce toxins that can kill wild animals, livestock and pets.

But at the pond site, the “keep out” signs say only “may cause illness”.

The blooms can also harm humans, producing rashes after skin contact and illnesses if swallowed.

The algae also uses up oxygen in the water at night which can suffocate fish and other creatures.

Several large fish could be seen floating dead by the edges of the pond yesterday.

Cllr Mitchell said: “The Environment Agency alerted us to this danger on Wednesday and our teams immediately began taking action to warn people.”

She said it may be months until the pond can be made safe.