Oil slick pollutes lake Geneva

Emergency services were struggling to contain a mystery oil slick polluting part of Lake Geneva today.

Water police and firefighters from Switzerland and neighbouring France placed barrages around the slick in an attempt contain it, but it was already 1,100 yards long and 220 yards wide.

The slick – half way between Geneva and Lausanne on the Swiss shore of the picturesque lake shared with France – was reported to police early today.

The source is unknown and police do not know if it is road diesel or heating oil, said spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel.

Lake Geneva is 45 miles long and is the largest lake in Western Europe. It supports a sizeable community of fishermen, whose principal catch is perch. It is also popular for swimming and sailing.