Bird rescue continues after lake oil spill

The RSPCA has been trying to reach as many birds as it can to clean them up

Animal rescuers are cleaning and treating birds rescued from a lake contaminated with oil.

Officers in boats have been trying to reach them at Bermuda Lake in Nuneaton after a slick of "thick, black oil" was reported by local residents on Thursday.

Severn Trent Water has also been at the scene trying to establish the source of the pollution.

"This is an awful incident," RSPCA inspector Nicola Johnson said. "Oil spills can be lethal so we are very concerned for the wildlife in and around this lake."

The birds are being kept at Stapeley Grange in Nantwich

The lake is usually home to about 200 birds, including ducks, geese and moorhens.

“We’ve been thoroughly washing the oil off these first three little goslings and we’re happy to report that they are all now cleaned up," said Lee Stewart, manager of RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre.

"Two further rescued oiled goslings, a day-old coot and an adult goose recently arrived. So it’s going to be another busy day."

If oil is not removed from water birds it reduces their natural waterproofing in their plumage, leaving them at risk of dying from hypothermia, he said.

"Because the goslings have lost their parents, they will stay in our care until they are ready to fend for themselves when we will return them to the wild," he added.

Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets away from the water due to the contamination.

The charity hopes to help more birds from the lake

Severn Trent said it was also working with the Environment Agency and supporting the clean-up operation.

Geoff Grewcock, from Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, said on Thursday that he had seen the oil all around the outskirts of the lake, which is several acres in size, and feared for the safety of the birds there.

He described the incident as "very nasty" and something that should never have happened.