00:00Plastic knurdles released into the sea after a collision between two ships at the Port of Tyne are continuing to
00:06affect parts of the northeast coastline, despite progress at the port itself.
00:11The Port of Tyne says specialist contractors have now cleared the tiny plastic pellets from two damaged containers, using an
00:19industrial vacuum.
00:21Work is also continuing to remove wreckage on land, including a collapsed crane.
00:26A floating barrier has been placed at Jarrow Bridge on the River Don to help collect any remaining knurdles carried
00:33by the water.
00:34The pellets have washed ashore from South Shields across to North Tyneside, as well as parts of Northumberland and Seaburn
00:42in Sunderland.
00:43Environmental charity FIDRA estimates about one billion knurdles entered the environment.
00:50The Environment Agency says the risk to public health is low, but warns the pellets can harm wildlife.
00:56It says councils are responsible for organising beach clean-ups, while those found responsible for the pollution could be required
01:03to meet the costs.
01:05The agency says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and will consider whether any regulatory action is appropriate.
01:14Beach visitors are being urged to avoid standing on or disturbing the plastic pellets wherever they are found.
01:20Local campaigners say keeping away from affected areas can help prevent the pellets becoming buried in sand and making recovery
01:28more difficult.
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01:29the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water
01:29and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the
01:29water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and
01:29the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water
01:29and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the water and the
