Welsh fuel slick spreads
Welsh fuel slick spreads
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Sunday, 25, Jun 2006 07:58
A suspected fuel slick off the coast of north-west Wales has grown to cover eight miles of coastline, the Environment Agency has confirmed.
Earlier in the day local coastguard had reported that the polluted water stretched between Port Dinorwie and Britannia Bridge, but now it has spread to cover the entire length of the Menai strait, the thin stretch of water that separates Anglesey from mainland Wales.
The Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is urging boats and divers to stay away from the water until the leak had been dealt with and the source has been discovered.
Barry Priddis of the local Holyhead coastguard said: "We are currently working with the Environment Agency, the local authority and the Countryside Council for Wales in order to trace the source of pollution and endeavour to clean it up."
Mr Priddis explained that it was not known whether the pollution had originated from the mainland or from a vessel, but revealed that an MCA surveillance aircraft and an RAF Sea King would be assisting in the search.
"We do not know if there is any risk to health but we would advise people not to go in the water, south of the Menai strait," he added.