PET owners are being urged to stop their dogs going into the water at an Andover beauty spot after test results showed a dangerous toxin.

Miniature Jack Russell Maple died on August 13 after a walk at Anton Lakes – she was the second dog to die at the popular walking spot this year.

Jordan Shearman and Hannah Washington from Augusta Park lost their one-year-old Cocker Spaniel Roo in similar circumstances in April.

Following Maple’s death Test Valley Borough Council took samples to test for blue-green algae, it has now revealed that ‘low levels’ were found – despite previous tests by Maple’s owners, James Brady, 34, and Patricia Gora, 29, from Tidworth, which showed higher levels.

READ MORE: Owners call for warning signs at lake as second dog dies after walk at beauty spot

A council spokesperson said: “Following the recent sad news of a dog passing away after entering the water at Anton Lakes, Test Valley Borough Council’s Environmental Health team took water samples to test for blue-green algae, which occurs naturally in ponds and lakes.

“The results, which were analysed by an independent laboratory, showed extremely low levels of blue-green algae – more than 20 times lower than the guidance level for issuing warnings of a potential risk. However, as the owner had also taken samples on the day of the incident, the council sent them off for testing too. While those samples had not been taken in line with the guidelines or stored in the appropriate conditions, they showed much higher levels of blue-green algae.”

They continued: “Without an autopsy we cannot be sure that algal toxins were the cause of the dog's death, not least because the results of the water samples were variable. But while the test results were inconclusive, the circumstances of this case, combined with a similar incident of a dog dying in May after visiting the lakes, means that as a precautionary measure we are advising owners not to let their dogs in the water. This supplements our existing position that people swimming in the lakes is not allowed as it is potentially very dangerous and can also impact the wildlife.”

SEE ALSO: Fitness coach Leah Mansbridge is helping to change women's lives

The council has already installed temporary notices stating that in hot sunny weather there is an increased risk of toxins forming naturally in slow-flowing waters. These will be replaced with permanent signage “in due course”.

Following the outcome of the investigation, a water expert is calling on the council to start cleaning the lake.

Paul Martin, who works for Oase UK Ltd, a company that specialises in water equipment, said: "The stakeholders of Anton Lakes need to start cleaning the lake because blue-green algae doesn't disappear unless you correct the conditions. One of the things it will do is resolve itself temporarily and then come back again, which is why there was one incident at the lake in May and then not another till August. Depending on weather conditions and light exposure on the lake an incident like this could happen again in the future."