‘Full investigation’ promised into UK wildlife haven oil spill

The UK government has promised a “full investigation” into the causes of an oil spill over the weekend into Poole Harbour in south-west England, which is a haven to wildlife.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow promised MPs that the government was taking the incident, in which the equivalent of 200 barrels of crude oil mixed with water leaked out of a pipeline, “extremely seriously”.

The pipeline is part of the Wytch Farm oilfield, one of the biggest onshore fields in western Europe that has been in production since 1979. The field, operated by Perenco, is in an area designated as a site of special scientific interest. Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world and an important area for wildlife.