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Readers have expressed sympathy for a dog owner in Chorley who was forced to put down his beloved family pet after it suffered suspected algae poisoning.

Philip Cooper, 59, from Euxton, who owns family-run Cooper's Taxis in Chorley, says he took his nine-year-old springer spaniel Poppy for a walk in Astley Park and two days later she was dead from suspected blue-green algae poisoning.

Veterinarian Elizabeth Joseph, 51, of Hillcrest Animal Hospital said that although there is no diagnostic test for blue-green algae, it was highly likely that it was the cause of Poppy’s death and that they were awaiting blood test results.

Here is what a selection of Post readers had to say:

Philip Cooper lost his dog Poppy from suspected algae poisoning two days after walking her in Astley Park

Donna Cunningham Appleton: “I'm sure this was mentioned about the blue/green algae at Astley Park not so long ago, by right a warning sign should have been erected just like all the ones in the lakes.”

John Berry: “The lakes need to have working pumps or the issue will never go away. I lost my dog through same thing.”

Julie Cooper: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Pets are family members so it is no different to losing a beloved human being family member. Rest in peace beautiful fur baby.”

Robert Lawson: “Our pup just been like that, but seems to have recovered now. Was passing blood. Really ill.”

Blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog’s liver from functioning properly and exposure is often fatal

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Tracy Greenbank: “So very sorry. My heart goes out to you and your family, thank you for making us aware.”

Emma Thacker: “How awful she sounded lovely. Sorry for your loss.”

Helen Murphy: “So so sorry for your loss may Poppy R.I.P.”

Anne-Marie Hughes: “So very sorry to hear this.”

Jan Haynes PT: “Sorry for your loss but thankyou you for making us aware.”

Emily Wignall: “So sorry for your loss. It's so scary, my dog being a cocker spaniel loves to go in water too.”John McAndrew: “We had a similar experience about ten days ago but our cocker survived. We think that he had been eating things left by someone who had been camping in Astley Park for about a week. He is only 16 months old and will eat almost anything. He lost the use of his back legs for a period and it was only after a visit to an emergency vets that he started to recover.”

Chorley dog dead from suspected algae poisoning: Lancashire Post readers react after owner tells of his pet's harrowing ordeal