A BEACH and two seafront paddling pools on Canvey were closed after an oil spill.

Witnesses described seeing a slick – believed to be fuel from a cargo ship heading into Tilbury Docks – moving past the island But the sticky black substance washed up on beaches, including Concord Beach.

A Castle Point Council official took the decision to close the beach yesterday and put up signs and red and white tape warning people to stay away from the shore.

The Port of London Authority has launched an investigation to find out which ship the spill came from and what caused it.