Seabird death toll rises in mystery oil spill

The pollution spill may affect thousands of seabirds (PA)

Investigators were today still trying to identify the source of a pollution spill that may yet kill thousands of seabirds along a stretch of the South Coast from West Sussex to Cornwall.

Hundreds of birds were washed ashore over the weekend covered with a sticky, oily substance. Experts say a change in the wind direction yesterday blew many birds out to sea and it is feared they will die of cold and exhaustion.

The affected birds, mostly guillemots, are now being treated at RSPCA centres. An illegal dumping of cargo oil at sea may be behind the problem.