34 EVACUATED FROM OIL RIG FIRE

The fire broke out on the Energy Enhancer rig which lies 73 miles east of Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Two RAF helicopters transferred the 34 non-essential staff to a standby vessel after the Humber coastguard was contacted on Saturday night. 45 crew members currently remain onboard the rig.

The fire was confirmed to have been put out in the early hours.

A coastguard spokesman said: "Humber Coastguard was contacted 10.45pm by the rig Energy Enhancer in the North Sea reporting that they needed to down man the facility due to smoke in the accommodation area.

"Rescue helicopters from RAF Leconfield and RAF Boulmer attended the scene and transferred crew members from the rig to the standby vessel Vos Canna."

The operators confirmed that the well head involved had not been compromised during the fire.

The spokesman added: "The problem began when a small fire was thought to have been contained in the accommodation area but smoke and a strong heat source was detected late on Saturday night and crew were noticing smoke.

"A decision was made to evacuate 34 non essential crew from the platform and 45 crew members remain on board.

"At 2.30am it was confirmed that the fire was out and all risk had passed and the RAF Rescue Helicopters were stood down and will return to base."