Reassurances have been made that “litter” located in part of a town’s river is actually oil-absorbent sheets.
The sheets can be seen in the Inner Purfleet, just off Purfleet Street in Lynn.
Some passers-by have mistaken the sheets as litter, but West Norfolk Council has reassured that it is part of an environmental clean-up process following a large flat fire at the end of March.
The fire occurred in a flat located above Merkur Slots, with smoke at the time travelling as far as the St James Street area.
A spokesperson from West Norfolk Council said: “Oil absorbent booms have been deployed across accessible areas of open water.
“These items are not litter; they are designed to float and selectively absorb oil-based pollutants, without removing the water.
“They are part of a coordinated clean-up effort and will remain to passively capture residual surface contamination.”
