DAY THE SEA ‘BOILED’

...But it’s not what it seems!

BUBBLING up from the sea, it appeared to be an uncannily well-timed harbinger of seismic climate change – thermal springs off the coast of Scotland.

In fact, the explanation was more simple. The unusual marine disturbance, which seemed to boil like a cauldron, was caused by water being pumped from a landfill site after the recent heavy rain. A drone flying over the coast of Ayrshire on Sunday captured footage of the sight.

The area of sea affected was a mile south of Lendalfoot, near Girvan, and led to initial speculation it was the result of a burst sewer pipe. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the pumped liquid, called leachate, was legally discharged from Straid Farm Landfill after it had been treated.

Paul Young, 46, from Girvan, who filmed the event using a drone, said at first he thought the bubbling water was a riptide. Then he feared it might be effluent, and contacted Sepa.