Burry Inlet cockles are world renowned

Results of samples taken over the past two weeks from both sides of the estuary have been toxin-free.

The news, on Friday, comes just a day after cocklers staged a protest at Penclawdd, maintaining the shellfish were safe to eat.

They claimed the industry was heading towards a crisis because of the prohibition.

They staged a 'picnic' on the mud flats at Penclawdd on Thursday and the only food on the menu were cockles.

The ban on collecting was imposed last July by the local authorities after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) during routine sampling.

Testing methods

The cocklers have since called on the agency to change its method of testing on mice to using chemicals instead.

They claim chemical testing would provide more accurate results.

The fisheries of the Burry inlet provide a quarter of all British cockles.

They are hand picked by a technique in use since Roman times.

Cocklers feared the lack of harvesting could lead to overpopulated beds.

Financially, the ban has been terrible

Glyn Hyndman, cockle-picker

If the young cockles do not have enough space to grow their shells will burst. Mussels, which feed off the shells, will then take over.

Glyn Hyndman's family have been farming the inlet for five generations.

He said: "Financially, the ban has been terrible. It is devastating to be put out of work through no fault of our own.

Rory Parsons, of Parsons Pickles, said: "We support public health issues but nobody has been made ill and we have received no complaints."

FSA and Environmental Health officers were at the protest on Thursday to ensure the ban was not broken.