The oil clean-up operation at the former Royal Navy base HMS Malabar is being scaled down after it was announced yesterday that the vast majority of oil at the site has now been removed.

Yesterday a Royal Navy spokesman said more than 500 cubic metres of waste oil had been collected since the clean-up was launched 12 months ago.

And with only trace elements now being recovered from the site at Dockyard, work has now been scaled down, although it will continue for another ten months.

"As only small amounts of oil are now being recovered it may look as though there is little activity on the site,'' the spokesman said.

"This is entirely consistent with the change of emphasis as the clearance work draws to a close.

"A full risk assessment -- developed to confirm previous scientific analysis -- has confirmed that any impact of the remaining oil on the water table and marine life is low and gives no cause for concern.

"However, the Ministry of Defence UK will continue to monitor site conditions during the coming year to provide added reassurance.'' The UK Government has always complied with Bermuda's claim that it should be responsible for any clean-up operation on the Island.

But a question mark still hangs over the US Government's commitment to clean up its former naval annex at Morgan's Point -- an operation which could cost more than $55 million.

Research is still being carried out to determine exactly how much waste oil pollution is located at the site.

MILITARY MIL