The Environment Agency is investigating an oil spill which affected about a dozen swans in the river Thames in Kingston on Monday.

Officers from the Environment Agency attended the scene, between Westfield landing in Portsmouth Road and Chater Quay, to undertake a thorough investigation.

Here they found a significant amount of oil floating on the surface and that some oil had been blown onto nearby moored boats.

Officers took immediate action to stop the oil from spreading by deploying absorbent booms and clean up pads.

Mike Denbigh, the agency's team leader, said: "On arrival we immediately took steps to limit the oil spreading and started to clean up some of the spillage. We are actively monitoring the site to ensure that the spread of the contamination has been contained. A nearby swan sanctuary has taken in some birds which were affected."

He added: "I would like to reassure people that we take all such spillages seriously and will be investigating the circumstances which have lead to this pollution. Thames Water has been very helpful in assisting us with our investigations in tracking down the source of the pollution."

Anyone who spots an environmental incident should call the Enviroment Agency's freephone incident Hotline on 0800 807060.