DOG owners have been warned to beware of a potentially fatal substance which has washed up on beaches.

Coastguard teams in Selsey received reports of the substance having washed up on beaches in the area on Saturday.

Pictures show the waxy, white lumps that were found, and previous sightings of similar substances have been named as palm oil deposits.

Although palm oil is a degraded edible oil, it is thought that other substances mixed in with it, such as diesel from ships, can make it toxic for dogs. In extreme cases it has been known to cause pancreatitis and lead to dogs being put down.

West Sussex County Council has been informed to arrange for the substance to be removed.

Selsey Coastguard said: “As a precautionary measure we are advising that people visiting the beaches in our area please keep their dogs within sight, preferably on leads, until we have further information about what the substance is as it could be deadly for them if digested.

“Remember that if you see anything out of the ordinary washed ashore, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard so that we can investigate it.”