THE LIVES lives of dozens of birds - including three rare avocet chicks - are in danger after an oil spillage polluted a North-East nature reserve.

Staff at WWT Washington Wetland Centre on Wearside are monitoring the water at Wader Lake after oil was found in the gill that feeds it, sparking concerns for the wildlife living there.

Birds including lapwing and the largest nesting colony of grey herons in the region live on the lake - and both species are tending their young.

A pair of avocets also hatched three chicks at the site just days ago - only the second time ever that the bird, which traditionally nests in southern England, has hatched chicks in the North-East.

Reserve Manager Sue Charlton said: "The gill that feeds into Wader Lake was polluted at the weekend.

"The Environment Agency has taken samples and they think it has been dumped into the water via a drain which finds its way into the gill, though it is impossible to know exactly where it came from.

"We are monitoring the situation and are using booms and hydrophobic pads - which repel water but attract oil - to try and soak up the spillage, although it's impossible to remove it all.

"If any of the birds - including the three rare avocet chicks and five young families of lapwing - ingest the oil it will cause liver failure and they will die. We're very concerned about them."

Staff and volunteers at WWT Washington were delighted when the avocets returned to Wader Lake in March this year and began nesting on Tern Island.

In July 2006 the same pair hatched two chicks at the lake - a first in the centre's 31-year history and the most northerly hatching ever recorded.

Ms Charlton added: "It is so good to see them back and three chicks is fantastic.

"Our staff and volunteers have spent a great deal of time clearing trees and scrub to make Wader Lake more attractive to wading birds such as the avocet and it is hugely encouraging to see our careful habitat management paying off.

"But it is devastating to think that these special birds could be killed by such careless human actions. Nobody should ever pour oil or fuel into a drain."