The contents of the 'black balls' that washed up on Sydney, Australia beaches last month have been identified after weeks of analytical testing.

"Based on advice from the Environment Protection Authority, we can now confirm the balls are made up of fatty acids, chemicals consistent with those found in cleaning and cosmetic products, mixed with some fuel oil," New South Wales Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings told the BBC as the beaches reopened in mid-October.

Scientists have solved the mystery of sticky black balls that began washing on beaches in Sydney, Australia last month. Thousands of the strange balls first began appearing in mid-October, including at the city's famous Bondi Beach,