'No pollution' on Napoli beaches

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Water from beaches in Devon and Dorset near the stricken container ship MSC Napoli is clear of pollution signs, the Environment Agency says.

Beaches between Portland and Brixham have been monitored since the 62,000-tonne vessel was deliberately grounded off Sidmouth on 20 January.

It was under tow to Portland after it was abandoned because holes appeared on either side of the vessel.

An operation to remove more than 2,200 containers from it is still under way.

Shellfish samples

The agency said water samples were checked for over 165,000 man-made chemicals at its laboratory, where staff have been working round-the-clock to turn around results within 24 hours.

Results show that so far there is no pollution from pesticides and other chemicals from the ship or its cargo.

Traces of man-made substances have been found in a small number of samples, but in concentrations so low as to be insignificant, the agency said.

The agency has also taken samples of mussels and limpets that have been stored for possible use in a long-term study on the impact of the incident.

Local commercial fishermen have provided shellfish samples that will also be used as "baseline" data.

The damaged vessel was being towed to Portland after she was hit by a Channel storm during which her 26 crew were airlifted from a liferaft.

It was then grounded near Branscombe beach in Lyme Bay, a World Heritage Site.

Containers are continuing to be lifted off the Napoli and Portland port will receive about 300 a week for 10 weeks.

The containers take 11 hours to transport by sea from Branscombe to Portland.