Paradise lost :Shocking pictures show how a beautiful beach in Thailand turned black after a devastating oil spill

Destruction ... oil has blanketed the idyllic beach - By JACK LOSH 

A BEAUTIFUL beach popular with Brit tourists in Thailand has turned black after a devastating oil spill. 

The heavy crude washed up on idyllic Samet Island today after 50 tonnes of oil gushed from a leaky pipeline (near Map Tha Phut) over the weekend.

Tourists were warned to stay away as hundreds of clean-up workers in white bio-hazard suits descended on the disaster zone to scrape the white sands clean.

Disaster ... hundreds are involved in the clean-up effort

Crude ... a Thai soldier scoops up the oil on Ao Prao Beach

Holiday from hell ... tourists have been warned to stay away

Streaks of crude oil almost 1000-feet wide have marred the shore of Prao Bay, one of the most popular beach destinations in the Gulf of Thailand and visited by thousands of Brit tourists and ex-pats every year.

Deputy provincial governor Supeepat Chongpanish said: “The top priorities right now are to get rid of the oil on the sand and the seawaters, and to make sure the spill doesn’t spread to other shores.

“This is a very beautiful, white, sandy beach, so we want to make the spill go away as soon as possible.”

Grim ... dozens of bags filled with oil are piled on the beach

Eco damage ... streaks of crude oil almost 1000-feet wide have marred the shore

Known for its quieter scene and serene beach, Prao Bay is now blackened by waves of oil slicks that lashed at the shore.

Local resort worker Kevin Wikul said: “The black waves started rolling in since last night and by the morning the beach was all tainted with oil.

“We have advised our guests against going near the beach and some of them have asked for early check-outs.”

Leak ... fifty tonnes of crude oil burst from a pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand

Clean-up ... Thai workers place oil-absorbing sheets on the beach

Aided by the Thai Navy, PTT Global Chemical has flown in oil spill management experts and a plane from Singapore as part of clean-up.

In 2009, another PTT subsidiary was involved in the Montara oil spill, one of the Australia’s worst oil disasters, in the Timor Sea off western Australia.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said: “Around 300,000 UK nationals visit Thailand each year the majority on holiday, most will visit the islands and resorts of Phuket, Patong, Koh Samui and Krabi which are far to the south of the capital Bangkok.

“Koh Samet due to its closeness to Bangkok is popular with the British expat community who live in the capital.”