Beaches in Sydney including the iconic Bondi were closed to bathers on Thursday after hundreds of black balls suspected to be toxic washed up on the city's shores.

Sydney’s Bondi Beach and other beaches around the Australian city were shut on Thursday as officials investigated mysterious tar balls that have washed ashore.

A local mayor says the balls littering two beaches in the Sydney area could be "tar balls," which form when spilled oil clumps together with debris in the water.

Authorities have shut down two beaches in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday after hundreds of black golf ball sized spheres washed ashore.

The origins of “mysterious, black, ball-shaped debris” washed up along the length of Sydney’s Coogee beach are being investigated after the unknown material has closed down the popular eastern suburbs beach.

Hundreds of mysterious black tar-like balls have washed up on two popular Sydney beaches, prompting lifeguards to close the strands to swimmers.

Two popular eastern Sydney beaches were closed until further notice after the appearance of "mysterious black" balls, local authorities said. Coogee beach, particularly popular with backpackers, was cleared on Tuesday after lifeguards "discovered mysterious,

An unusual situation has arisen in Australia. Mysterious black balls have been spotted on Coogee Beach in Sydney. The source and nature of these objects remain unknown, necessitating further research.

The mystery surrounding the ball-shaped debris washing ashore in Sydney has been solved after a second beach was closed over the strange objects. Tests conducted by Randwick City Council have discovered the debris is actually a phenomenon known as "tar balls",