For the second year in a row Aqua Park Suffolk have been forced to close their inflatable obstacle course at Alton Water because of dangerous blue-green algae.

Ipswich Star: Aqua Park Suffolk have confirmed they will not reopen at Alton Water in 2020 Picture: SPOTTYDOG COMMUNICATIONSAqua Park Suffolk have confirmed they will not reopen at Alton Water in 2020 Picture: SPOTTYDOG COMMUNICATIONS (Image: Archant)

This afternoon Anglian Water confirmed that the Aqua Park will be shutting down with immediate effect and all customers booked on the course this summer will be refunded - the park will not reopen in 2020.

In a post on their website Aqua Park Suffolk said: " While the algae is not considered to be at harmful levels at present, customer safety is our highest priority and based on the rising trend and guidance from Alton Water, we are taking the very difficult decision to permanently close Aqua Park Suffolk."

A spokeswoman for Anglian Water said: "Algal blooms are a natural phenomenon, occurring in large bodies of water like reservoirs and rivers when the weather conditions are very warm and still - as we have started to see again this year.

"It is by its nature, very difficult to prevent and control these blooms. We had hoped the new ultrasound technology we were trialling at Alton would help stop the algae returning this year, but unfortunately this hasn't been the case."

Schools, sports clubs and families who had booked to have a go on this Aqua Park Suffolk course the summer have shared their dissapointment at its closure.

On the East Anglian Daily Times Facebook page Victoria Lister Groves posted: "This is the second year in a row my booking has been cancelled."

Jacqui Holmes posted on the Ipswich Star Facebook page: "This is so sad! It's something that is out of their control! They followed the instructions given by the water people and unfortunately it hasn't worked."

A spokesman for Aqua Park Suffolk said: "We are sorry for the disappointment caused to visitors who will no doubt have been looking forward to their day out."

Anglian Water say that sailing and craft based water sports will continue as usual at the site and the campsite and all the rest of the park will remain open.

The Aqua Park team will be issuing refunds to everyone who has booked in for the summer. These will be confirmed via email.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: " The Environment Agency monitors blue green algal blooms as part of our pollution response.

"We work with water body owners to assess the risk of blooms and to protect people and wildlife. Where a blue green algae bloom in a lake or pond poses a significant risk to users, access should be restricted by the water body owner.

"If a member of the public sees an algal bloom they should contact the Environment Agency on our 24 Incident hotline number on 0800 80 70 60."

Read more: Last year Aqua Park Suffolk shut in mid July when the 2019 heatwave caused an outbreak of the algae.