Beach contaminated

weekly basis indicate that the limits allowed by the Ministry in relation to a bacterium have been exceeded, for which reason the beach has been temporarily closed.

“The analyses will be carried out again to be able to open the beach when the required criteria are met. Access to the sand and beach bars in the area are still allowed, so the Local Police and rescue personnel are in ­ forming bathers that bathing is prohibited, but not access to the area,” she said.

GUARDIA CIVIL officers, in a joint operation with the National Police, have intercepted almost 5,000 kilograms of hashish arranged in a total of 126 bales just as they were being unloaded in the Alicante port of Santa Pola.

Four people have been arrested for their alleged involvement, three of whom were arrested red­handed.

Guardia Civil officers sighted a GO FAST type boat with four engines sailing at a speed of 52 knots and that was apparently loaded with bales.

While the officers were in the area, they observed a van with its rear doors open leaning into a recreational boat, where various people were unloading the boat and loading the van.

The beach reopened on Saturday, July 15. The council confirmed that two tests in the morning provided ‘normal’ and ‘optimal’ levels of water quality. It is thought that the contamination was a ‘one ­ off’, without the council revealing what the causes might have been.