North Sea oil and gas extraction causes pollution to surge 10,000 per cent, according to a University of Essex study.

In collaboration with the Natural History Museum and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), researchers revealed the impact of hydrocarbon and heavy metals pollution on underwater ecosystems around extraction sites.

Pollutants increased by 10,613 per cent within half a kilometre around platforms, with the number of species decreasing nearly 30 per cent.

The study stated: "Contaminants have been accumulating for decades around platforms and this study shows a direct impact on marine invertebrates - which play a key role in underwater ecosystems, acting as food for larger animals like fish."

Data from 1981-2012 indicates decreased species and individuals in contaminated sediments, with food webs becoming smaller and simpler within a 500m radius of platforms.

Mr Chen, a PhD student at University of Essex, said: "We’ve known for a while that hydrocarbon extraction can impact biodiversity, but this is the first-time consistent trends have been found across several platforms.

"We were surprised at how simple the food web is close to the rig, with larger predators being more vulnerable to the changes than other species."