A warning has today been issued to stay clear of a stretch of Troon beach – after the discovery of two dead cows near the shoreline.
The remains of what appears to be two Friesian cows were washed up near the stretch of the South Beach and were spotted by a dog walker yesterday afternoon.
And while the grim task of removing the dead animals will begin in earnest, the public, especially walkers and dog walkers, are being asked to steer clear of the site.
At this stage it is unclear whether the animals have come from a local farm or not, or been washed up from further afield.
Local farmers are being advised to check their herd numbers in the meantime.
The dog walker who discovered the animals said: “The Friesian cow cadavers have washed up. They are fresh but my dog picked up on the smell.
“They’re about 100 yards by the kiosk but 500 to 550 yards out.
“And another smaller one, further out, is at the sandbanks.”
SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency), South Ayrshire Council and NFU Scotland have all been contacted for a response.