Birds to be released after contamination

Sea birds rescued after they were contaminated with a colourless synthetic rubber are to be released back into the wild.

More than 300 birds, mainly guillemots but some razorbills, were taken into care by the RSPCA after being contaminated with Polyisobutylene (PIB) or butyl rubber.

They were rescued along the south coast shores at the end of January.

Tomorrow the birds will be taken to a cliff-top in the Portland area of Dorset, where most of them were found, and then released.

Peter Venn, manager at West Hatch rescue centre, said: "Our staff have done a fantastic job in cleaning and caring for these birds and now some of them are strong and fit enough to be released back to the wild where they belong."