Spain's government yesterday demanded Britain prevent fuel spills from a wrecked ship off its colony Gibraltar that have polluted Spanish beaches.

Small amounts of fuel from the New Flame bulk carrier, which partially sank off Gibraltar in August, washed onto beaches near Algeciras over the weekend after a storm. The scrap carrier sank after colliding with a tanker in waters under Gibraltar's jurisdiction and Spain says it is the British colony's responsibility that the wreck is cleaned up.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, had promised the colony would try to stop further spills.

"He said he accepted full responsibility and promised us that he will do everything necessary to avoid anything worse," Mr Moratinos told reporters in Madrid.

In an interview with Spanish national radio, Mr Caruana said every effort would be made to salvage the ship and added that the oil spill had been small.

"It was a small slick of very light fuel oil which is being dealt with and - although we regret there has been an incident affecting Spain's coast - everything possible is being done," he said.

Spanish Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said the government had called in the British ambassador about salvage efforts which have been complicated after the ship sank further over the weekend.