Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell failed to mend a leak in a pipeline in the British section of the North Sea on Sunday. However, a spokesperson for the company has said the leak is under control and the amount of oil escaping into the marine environment has been reduced.

Shell estimates that between 2 tonnes and 20 tonnes of oil have seeped into the sea. The pollution has spread across an area of 37 square kilometres. Substantially less than the area of 130 square kilometres Shell reported on Saturday.

"We are doing our very best to stop the leaking," a spokesperson said. An investigation is underway into what caused the leak. Shell is unable to say what the full extent of the damage is.

(nc/rk/tf)

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