Oil leak beach given 'all clear'

Booms were used to contain the oil on the beach

A beach has been given the all clear after being polluted by an oil spill six days ago.

Notices advising people to stay away from Traeth y Dolau beach in New Quay, Ceredigion, have now been removed, environment officials said.

About 300 gallons (1,363 litres) of kerosene ran into water courses in the town on Thursday following the tanker spill near Picton Terrace.

There were fears for sea life when the heating oil reached the beach.

Homes were evacuated during the incident and two people needed medical attention.

Jenny Higgins, from the Countryside Council for Wales said: 'We are pleased that the effects of the spill on wildlife appear to have been very limited.

"There is nothing to suggest there has been an impact on bottlenose dolphins or grey seals.

"We will be examining the honeycomb reefs that are on the shore over the coming days but think it is unlikely that they will have been damaged by the incident."

Ceredigion council is considering further clean- up measures to remove the oil odours still present on roads and paths in the town.

The Environment Agency Wales said it would carry out a review of the response to the incident.