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"ALARMINGLY high" levels of E. coli have been found at beaches and rivers popular with British holidaymakers just weeks before the summer rush. More than 100 people across the UK have also fallen ill in a food-related outbreak , which has seen at least 37 hospitalised .

3 A "do not swim" notice has been issued for St Helen's Beach in Rosslare, Ireland, after testing revealed the bacteria was present. A similar warning is in place at Greve de Lecq in Jersey after high levels of E. col i were found in the water.



At least six major rivers have also been caught up in the bacteria storm, with officials urging people not to paddle or punt. Among them is the River Cam in Cambridge, where E. coli levels were six times the acceptable level .

The River Avon in Hampshire is also on the 'no-go' list after government testing showed levels to be more than three times the safe level. And samples taken from the River Tone at French Weir Park in Taunton, Somerset, were almost five times higher. The worst two rivers were the Wharfe in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, and the Stour at Friars Meadow, Suffolk.

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