Rough seas generated by Hurricane Alex pushed more oil from the massive spill on to US Gulf coast beaches today as clean-up vessels were sidelined by the storm.

BP and the US Coast Guard sent oil-skimming ships in the Gulf of Mexico back to shore because nasty weather from Hurricane Alex churned up rough seas and powerful winds.

Thousands fled as the outer edge of Hurricane Emily lashed coastal areas around the Texas-Mexico border and its already powerful centre continued to strengthen just offshore.