内容摘要：“We will need to excavate lots of mud and debris. But we will also open up the old mine entrance on the field over the road.

“We will need to excavate lots of mud and debris. But we will also open up the old mine entrance on the field over the road.

They said: "We are very aware of the efforts and assistance from all those acting in the response."We want to thank everyone who has responded urgently and gallantly to this incident."

Burnt tiny plastic pellets, known as nurdles,along the east coast in the aftermath of the collision.Nurdles are balls of plastic resin used in plastics production.

Ernst Russ admitted they were held in containers on board the Solong and had been released during the intense fires, which took a week to bring under control.According to conservation groups, the nurdles are not toxic but can have a devastating impact on animals if they are eaten.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust said a "clean-up operation has been underway for several days".

"Sadly the plastic pollution has been extensive at Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, where the shorebird sanctuary for rare and vulnerable species such as little tern and ringed plover is set to come into play from 1 April," the charity said in a social media post.Nurdles are balls of plastic resin used in plastics production. They are not toxic but can present a risk to wildlife if ingested, according to HM Coastguard.

One crew member of the Solong is missing and presumed dead. The captain of the cargo vessel has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.Mr O'Callaghan said aerial surveillance had confirmed the presence of the nurdles in the water and some on the shore between Old Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk.

Retrieval had started, with specialist counter-pollution teams sent to help, he added.Calum Duncan, head of policy and advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society, said: "We're deeply concerned about nurdles washing up along the Wash, a vital internationally important protected area for birds like waders, wildfowl, gulls and terns."