Belco was yesterday still hard at work clearing an oil and water slick from a residential garden near its Pembroke plant.

The company said in a statement last night that the job had been given "top priority" and that workers had removed contaminated grass from the property and moved the homeowner's banana and cane plants and several garden paving stones.

"Belco is communicating regularly with the neighbour and has promised to restore the property to equal or better condition," said the statement.

The spill happened when rain at the weekend flooded a tank where waste oil is processed at the plant, causing it to overflow.

"Belco and the Ministry of the Environment will continue to consult on the clean-up and remediation process at the central plant, working closely to ensure that all Government requirements are met," said last night's statement.

"Belco continues to respond to the spill according to procedures outlined in its Major Environmental Emergency Contingency Plan that was developed by the company and which is practised annually."