An oil spill off the island of Tjörn in southwest Sweden is the worst in the area for 25 years

Radio Sweden, An oil spill off the island of Tjörn in southwest Sweden is the worst in the area for 25 years, according to the Swedish coastguard.

It is unclear how much oil is left in the water but 150 cubic meters has so far been taken up. The clean-up operation could take four weeks and there is a danger that the oil slick could spread to the protected wildlife area of Stigfjorden.  

Expressen newspaper reports that five ships, an aircraft and fifty coastguards are currently involved in the operation. The plane will be used this morning to get an overall picture of how far the oil slick has spread.

"It will take a long time to remove the oil," Gothenburg coastguard Birgitta Andersson told Göteborg Posten. 

It's thought the oil has come from a ship involved in a collision off the Danish west coast last week. Oil samples have been taken to see if there is a match.

Local birdlife has been affected. Tjörn is the sixth largest island in Sweden.

(Source : Radio Sweden)