Scotland faces oil spill that may endanger the dolphins' habitat.

WILDLIFE campaigners have voiced fresh fears for Scotland's bottlenose dolphins after an oil spill threatened their habitat.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is calling for the UK government to reject oil and gas licensing in the bottlenose dolphin Special Area of Conservation after oil washed up at Buckie, Moray, near the boundary of the dolphins' protected area at the weekend.

Talisman, the oil producer, admitted a spill at Caithness last month came from its Beatrice oilfield and is investigating to see if it is to blame for the latest incident.

A spokesman for the firm, which is paying for clean-ups, said: "We take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously."