A MASSIVE rescue operation to pull 192 cocklers off Morecambe Bay has exposed a mistake that has allowed potentially dangerous cockles to enter the food chain.

Co-ordinates of a rescue on August 7 far off the coast near Aldingham revealed that the area being raked was not a recognised cockle bed and was unclassified'.

It means the cockle quality has never been tested so the molluscs are deemed unfit for human consumption.

"It could be seriously polluted but no one knows," said Chris Fidler, South Lakeland District Council's assistant director of environmental health.

"Potentially, it could be a danger. All we can say is we have no reports back of problems but that isn't sufficient evidence."

Cocklers have sold-on many tonnes of the sought-after shellfish from the unclassified spot known as Leven Island since they started gathering there about three months ago.

Around 50 Furness and Flookburgh fisherman have regularly harvested cockles there and more recently up to 200 people have been on the sands as pickers from outside the area arrived. Most of their haul will have been exported to Spain, France and other European nations.

See News - Furness for the full story.