In pictures: S Korea slick clean-up

Crude oil continues to threaten beaches and wildlife on South Korea's west coast after the country's worst spill.

Thousand of local residents, police and volunteers are trying to clear the oil from the country's coastline.

The oil is leaking from the Hong Kong-registered Hebei Spirit, which collided with a drifting industrial barge near the coast of Taean on Friday.

The clean-up operation has continued over the weekend but some locals say they are afraid the beaches will never return to their previous condition.

More than 9,000 people are attempting to clear the beaches, while 140 ships are fighting the spill out at sea.

There is particular concern for bird life as the slick has covered important transit points for migrating birds.

Local fishermen have raised barriers in an attempt to prevent the oil from contaminating their seaweed farms.

More than 20 million tourists are drawn to the natural beauty of the area every year, but officials say numbers are likely to drop significantly.

An investigation has been launched into the accident and a state of emergency has been declared.

But the national media has accused the government of taking too long to respond to the disaster.

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