The Alliance Party is calling for "immediate action" to be taken after gallons of diesel leaked from a boat into the Strangford Lough in Co Down.

A boat, which had been at the quay in Portaferry for over a year, initially sank in January, causing concerns over the leaking of diesel into the lough. The vessel has now sunk even further.

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MLA Kellie Armstrongs said: "The Council has confirmed they are in contact with the owner but that is giving little comfort to residents and to those with boats moored at Portaferry. At the behest of Ards and North Down Borough Council, the local volunteer coastguard have collected a huge amount of debris that can now be seen at Cook Street Quay. The Council were supposed to remove it but as of today piles of planks, mattress and other rubbish lies uncollected. The amount of floating rubbish from the ship has the potential to damage moored boats. I call upon the owner to do the right thing and remove it before further damage is caused."

(CD/MH)