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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| River Thames oil spill in Windsor affects 150 swans | River Thames oil spill in Windsor affects 150 swans |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| About 150 swans have been rescued from the scene of an oil spill at the River Thames in Windsor. | About 150 swans have been rescued from the scene of an oil spill at the River Thames in Windsor. |
| Thames Water was called out at 22:30 BST on Friday to the site of the spill between Windsor bridge and Eton bridge. | Thames Water was called out at 22:30 BST on Friday to the site of the spill between Windsor bridge and Eton bridge. |
| Wendy Hermon, of the charity Swan Lifeline, said it was "one of the worst oil spills" she had seen and that some swans were covered up to their necks. | Wendy Hermon, of the charity Swan Lifeline, said it was "one of the worst oil spills" she had seen and that some swans were covered up to their necks. |
| The Environment Agency (EA) said the oil spillage has now stopped. The swan rescue is ongoing. | |
| 'Wash every one' | 'Wash every one' |
| Ms Hermon said: "It's a total disaster. We've got teams up there at the moment and we're just having boat-loads brought in every 15 minutes. | Ms Hermon said: "It's a total disaster. We've got teams up there at the moment and we're just having boat-loads brought in every 15 minutes. |
| "We have got to wash every single one of them. We are going to be busy for the next couple of days." | "We have got to wash every single one of them. We are going to be busy for the next couple of days." |
| She described the river as "jet black", and said she could "see the swans swimming through the oil that was up to their necks". | She described the river as "jet black", and said she could "see the swans swimming through the oil that was up to their necks". |
| An Environment Agency spokeswoman said reports were received on Friday night from members of the public about an oil spill near Eton Bridge. | |
| 'High dilution' | |
| She said the "oil coming into the River Thames has stopped, with no oil coming from any of the surface outfalls or other potential sources". | |
| She added that the "high dilution of the River Thames has minimised the impact of the pollution". | |
| A Thames Water spokeswoman said: "Our crews have been out since 10.30 last night, but it is still not clear how this has happened." | |
| In February last year, in an oil spill in the same area of the river, 68 swans were rescued. | In February last year, in an oil spill in the same area of the river, 68 swans were rescued. |
| Ms Hermon said: "The problem the other year was very minor compared to this. This is one of the worst oil spills I've seen." | Ms Hermon said: "The problem the other year was very minor compared to this. This is one of the worst oil spills I've seen." |
| The swans are being cleaned in communal tubs with washing up liquid. | The swans are being cleaned in communal tubs with washing up liquid. |
| They will also be fed charcoal powder to neutralise any oil chemicals they may have ingested, the charity said. | They will also be fed charcoal powder to neutralise any oil chemicals they may have ingested, the charity said. |
| There are about 200 swans in the Windsor area and about 400 on the River Thames in Berkshire, the charity added. | There are about 200 swans in the Windsor area and about 400 on the River Thames in Berkshire, the charity added. |
| The EA will carry out riverside checks and "continue to monitor the situation". |