A BEACH training exercise was carried out yesterday, above, to help deal with possible future oil spills.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency visited Saltburn beach, in east Cleveland, in freezing conditions for a demonstration.
The agency arrived with equipment, brought from Southampton, to show how to deal with spills.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's area management department organised the two-day training course, learning lessons from previous UK pollution incidents.
The first day, on Tuesday, focused on issues involving the council, covering health and safety and oil recovery.
The training was set up as part of the council's commitment to the Civil Contingencies Act, to equip personnel to deal with emergencies, including oil spills.
The council's cabinet member for environmental improvement Councillor Bob Stanway said: "We hope we never have to respond to a major oil spill, but this exercise shows the council takes the issue very seriously and is putting plans in place."
Also involved have been Cleveland Fire Brigade, PD Teesport, Hartlepool and Stockton councils, Health and Safety, HM Coastguard and McAlpines.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article