Tests on a stretch of water in a popular High Wycombe park have revealed that it is safe after fears were raised last week that there could be a dangerous toxin in it. 

The Dyke at The Rye turned a milky colour last week, with Wycombe District Council warning park-goers and their pets to avoid the water in case it was caused by a cyanophyta bloom - also known as blue-green algae. 

Bloom and scum forming blue-green algae can produce toxins which can kill wild animals, farm livestock and domestic pets.

However, Wycombe District Council has now confirmed that samples taken by the Environment Agency (EA) from the Dyke late last week do not contain the potentially dangerous blue-green algae as originally suspected.

Instead, the odd colour of the water has been caused by calcium carbonate, a natural mineral that will not harm wildlife. 

The EA's report says that limestone and chalk rocks are made of calcium carbonate and when rainwater seeps down into the rocks, some of the calcium carbonate dissolves into the water.

The calcium carbonate rich water then comes out of springs into rivers and lakes.

Usually the calcium carbonate stays dissolved but sometimes - especially when there has been little rainfall, the calcium carbonate turns the water "milky white".

Safety fears were raised in August last year after the potentially dangerous blue-green algae was thought to have been spotted in the water. 

Members of wildlife hospital Tiggywinkles in Haddenham were called out to test the waters after a dead swan was discovered in the lake of Wycombe Abbey School, which links to the Dyke.

It was later revealed that samples taken by the EA did not contain the blue-green algae as originally suspected.