Environmentalists have warned that the Shell oil spill in the North Sea – the vastest in more than 10 years – could devastate wildlife. The 19-mi by 2.5-mi slick caused by a leak from a Shell platform, which the company did not reveal for three days, has been described by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as “substantial.”

Shell says it delayed releasing information about the leak until it had established the source and extent of the problem. By the time the company provided information to the public, the oil sheen had spread over an area greater than 21 sqkm.

"We released the information when we felt sure as to the data provided," said Glenn Cayley, technical director of Shell's exploration and production activities in Europe, BBC News (More Info)