Oil could reach Merseyside's coastline 'in weeks' after an 80,000 litre spill, Sefton Council has confirmed.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that " tar balls " could wash up on Merseyside's coastline, after around 500 barrels of oil leaked from a pipe near North Wales.
Authorities in Southport, Crosby and Formby have warned that the leak of just under 80,000 litres may make it to our beaches 'in weeks'.
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Although none have appeared on the coastline yet, oil deposits seem to have made their way to the Lancashire coast already.
One Sefton Councillor took to Facebook to confirm that it could be "weeks" before we see any effect of the oil spill on Sefton shores, that's if there is an effect.
Councillor Lynne Thompson posted in a local Facebook group: "Further update on [the] oil spill.
"No reports of any oil washing up on Sefton’s shoreline. However, Blackpool has reported a small number of tar balls on their beach and oil marks on their sea wall. ENI Ltd and its contractors are in contact with Blackpool to make arrangements for a clean-up.
"Due to the extreme weather, it is proving very difficult to model what will happen with the oil and Sefton have been advised that although we have not seen any oil deposits for the moment, it will be days if not weeks before we can say we will not."
Sefton Council confirmed that they are yet to discover any traces of oil on the coastline and are continuing to check after every high tide.
The council also told the ECHO that they cannot say if or when the oil will arrive on the beaches as they prepare for such a possibility.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council told the ECHO: "This is correct what Cllr Thompson has shared. Our initial statement urging caution and our notices along the coastline still stand.
"However, as of yet, we have not had any confirmed discoveries yet on our coastline. We continue to check after every high tide.
"We can’t say when/if the oil will arrive on our beaches. We can only prepare for such a possibility over the coming days and weeks."
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