A mysterious foamy substance has blown in from the sea, covering a number of coastal roads in the Blackpool area.

Residents in Cleveleys were left confused when several feet of foam was washed in like a snow blizzard by winds of up to 90mph.

Concerns that the mysterious substance is a result of polluting detergents, as well as the dangerous driving conditions, have meant many locals have stayed at home.

An Environment Agency spokesperson told Metro: "We have taken samples of the foam, as obviously if this is caused by any kind of polluting material, we need to know about it.

"Early samples are not showing any trace of detergent, so we think it could be the combination of decomposing algal matter churned with the tide and the westerly wind which is causing the foam.

"We know it happens occasionally and can disappear again quite quickly so we will be looking further into what triggers it."