Clean-up begins as oil spill shuts 18 Kent beaches

Eighteen beaches in Kent have been closed due to an oil spill which the local council said will take "many days" to clean-up.

"Significant deposits of oil" were found at beaches across the Isle of Thanet, including Ramsgate and the popular tourist beaches of Margate and Broadstairs.

Thanet District Council (TDC) reported the incident on Wednesday evening and the Environmental Agency (EA) is investigating. The source of the oil has not been identified.

Mike Humber, director for the environment at the council, told BBC South East: "We never want to be saying to the public to not go on the beaches, but we have taken that decision to protect the public."

He added: "We want to clean up as quickly as we can. I think it will be many days, but it's difficult to be sure on that kind of timescale.

"It looks like its covering all of the beaches in Thanet. We need to think about public safety."

East Thanet MP Polly Billington reiterated that "the source of this spill is unclear", but added that she was being kept up-to-date with developments and was "hoping to see our beautiful beaches reopened as quickly as possible".

A spokesperson for TDC urged people, particularly dog walkers, to avoid the affected areas, and to report any deposits of oil on beaches to the authority.

The council was working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to remove the deposits from all of the affected beaches, and that samples would be collected and analysed.

Coastguard aircraft have been flying over the affected area as part of the search.

Early theories for the spill include a ship having washed out its engine, or the oil having come from a wreck which has broken up.

John Nichols, former chairman of the Thanet Fishermen's Association, said he thought the oil had "most likely come from a wartime wreck and engine fuel".

He said: "The oil looks old and breaks down easier. It won't take the coast guard long to discover where the oil has come from."

The reason it was ashore, he added, was "because of the wind direction and the high tides".

Local residents told the BBC conditions on Wednesday and Thursday were particularly windy.

Fiona McWilliams, who walks her dog at Botany Bay every day, said: "I feel angry about not being able to go on the beach.

"I want someone to take some action and whoever is responsible to be held accountable."

Environmental campaigner Nik Mitchell said: "This is a serious hazard and dangerous for our wildlife and our pets.

"I feel disappointed and concerned about how much worse it could get."

A spokesperson for the EA said: "We're working with the local council and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to investigate the source of this pollution, assess any environmental impacts and take any action that is required to reduce its impact.

"As a precaution, we've advised against swimming at affected locations while investigations continue."

In May, a bathing ban was also implemented in parts of Cliftonville, Margate after "small oil deposits" were found nearby.

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