In pictures: Spanish oil slick

Oil slicks continue to menace Spanish beaches, after a stricken tanker broke in two and sank off the country's north-west coast.

The oil tanker sank into the Atlantic on Tuesday, taking its cargo of 77,000 tons of fuel oil with it.

The oil slicks that Spaniards are calling a "black tide" have now soiled a 400km (250 miles) stretch of coastline.

Volunteers are working to minimise the damage.

Much depends on the weather. There are fears that strong winds could blow more oil onto the coast.

Local fishermen are trying to carry on, but their trade has been dealt a severe blow.

Help is on hand for some birds caught up in the disaster.

But there are fears of much worse to come.