Clean-up too risky for volunteers

People are being warned to avoid certain beaches

Volunteers who had been helping to clean up debris from the MSC Napoli are being told to stay away because the beaches are now considered hazardous.

More than 100 people helped rescue dozens of oil-covered birds and clear debris from the beach at Burton Bradstock, in Dorset, on Wednesday.

But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said some material being washed ashore may pose a health risk.

It said the clean-up should now be left to professional contractors.

We're asking people to please stay away and leave it to the professionals MCA

A spokeswoman said that in one incident on Branscombe beach a volunteer coastguard became ill after breathing fumes from a burning container.

The woman was taken by air ambulance to hospital but was not seriously injured.

"There is a risk so we're asking people to please stay away and leave it to the professionals," she added.

Jenny O'Connor, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) has been rescuing oil-covered birds between Burton Bradstock and Chesil Beach in Dorset since the weekend.

She has warned people not to pick up oiled birds unless they are wearing gloves because the oil could cause damage to the skin.

The Napoli suffered structural damage during last Thursday's storms and was deliberately grounded a mile off Branscombe to stop it breaking up in deep water.

Despite a salvage operation the ship has been leaking oil and hundreds of containers have washed ashore.