A warning has been issued after a river of blood was seen running out of a slaughterhouse onto a beach.

The blood was discovered at Ardrossan beach over the last month after a drainage fault at Robertson's Fine Foods.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) was called to the incident and has instructed the firm to take steps to prevent the fault happening again.

It comes after it was found the beach wasn't polluted by the incident.

Eilidh Beck, from Millport in North Ayrshire, who discovered the blood, said she was devastated at what she saw.

She said: "I live in this community. I visit this beach every day.

"I walk with my dogs here and have spent the last year documenting my beach clean efforts so it's upsetting to see the slaughterhouse make it unusable and potentially unsafe with blood and other animal remnants flowing into the sea.

"What's happened here in Ardrossan is terrible but it's by no means an isolated incident.

"While we welcome any attempts to return the beach and water to healthy levels, we feel it's important to recognise that this doesn't address the underlying problems of animal agriculture."

A Robertson's Fine Foods spokesman said: "The company is aware of an issue identified on June 25 and senior management are currently investigating why and how this has happened.

"We have been in contact with SEPA and North Ayrshire Council in order to establish the cause and to ensure that the appropriate corrective actions are in place.

"Early indications suggest that this is an isolated incident.

"John Robertson and Sons has been operating from this site since 1983 and this is the only incident to have taken place of this kind.

"The company has always been and will continue to be committed to its environmental responsibilities."

A representative from Sepa visited the company and identified a fault in a drain was to blame for the blood going on the beach.

David McNay, Sepa unit manager, added: "Every day Sepa works to protect and enhance Scotland's environment and investigates all reports of pollution.

"On Monday, July 23, Sepa became aware of reports about a discharge onto the beach at Ardrossan, with concerns that it may be coming from a nearby animal processing facility.

"A Sepa officer inspected the beach at low tide, and found a small surface water flow but no ongoing pollution.

"They also visited the facility and identified a surface water drain on the site that could allow wash-down water to escape the site.

"Sepa is clear that compliance with environmental regulations is non-negotiable, and has stressed to the operator that steps must be taken to prevent such a discharge in the future.

"Regular testing of the water quality at Saltcoats/Ardrossan has been ongoing since the bathing water season began at the start of June, and these samples were well within the acceptable limits at the time that the discharge was reported."