Plastic pellets washed up on beaches spark protest
BBCProtesters have expressed their anger over plastic pellets washed up on beaches in the north-east of England and their potential harm to wildlife.
The tiny beads, known as nurdles, entered the water when a vessel struck a ship container at the Port of Tyne in South Shields on Sunday, and have drifted as far as Blyth beach in Northumberland and Seaburn in Sunderland.
While the risk to the public is low, people are being warned not to pick them up. Concern has also been expressed that the clean up is not happening quickly enough.
Colin Porter, who attended a protest at Littlehaven beach in South Shields, said it was the worst local "environmental disaster" he had seen in many decades.
An investigation by the Environment Agency is under way, and Port of Tyne said it acted quickly to contain the damage.
However, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has now demanded that the owners of the two vessels involved in the collision which caused the spill, pay for the clean up.
South Tyneside CouncilPorter said: "I'm devastated, this is the worst environmental disaster I've ever known in my lifetime and I've been coming to these beaches for 50 odd years.
"I'm concerned about the effects on wildlife, there's birds and fish, we've got dolphins here, humans too, of course.
"How long is this going to take to clear up, it's not going to be a five-minute job."
Protester Anne Blair-Vincent said: "This is the worst spillage in Europe.
"It's nothing to be proud of, and the government is going to have to take action."
Samantha Dand, director of environment at North Tyneside Council, said: "It's still safe, just make sure you following the advice which is on our signage and on the website.
"And do make sure you keep dogs on leads because these pellets can be quite hazardous to animals."
