How bad could the tanker collision be for the environment?

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is overseeing the operation to respond to the incident and clean up any pollution.

Melanie Onn, the MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is currently doing an evaluation of the contamination risk and working with the owners of both of the vessels to plan a salvage operation.

Prof Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds said: "The priority, I imagine, for the crews trying to contain the damage, will be to extinguish the fires and keep vessels afloat. This will reduce the quantity of chemicals entering the water and the risk for wildlife downstream."

The fire that broke out following the crash will have helped to burn off some of the jet fuel but testing kits are being set to the site to confirm there is no residue remaining.

Frode Vikebø, research manager at the Institute of Marine Research said that the UK government will be modelling the spread of any contaminants at sea, considering ocean circulation and weather conditions, as part of "standard procedure".

In terms of mitigation, Dr Karen Purnell, former director of ITOPF - which advises governments on maritime pollution, said the first approach would be to let the jet fuel "dissipate naturally where possible and avoiding deliberate containment."

If any jet fuel did make it to shore, she said: "Flushing the shoreline to remobilise the fuel and perhaps directing it into absorbent booms or mats for later disposal could be an option." But she said the approach would differ depending on the different types of environment, for example whether there were wetlands.