Shell has halted controversial oil drilling in the Arctic after just one day, due to sea ice encroaching on the operation.
Arctic drilling has attracted fury from environmental campaigners due to fears that a large spill could be far worse than BP's Gulf of Mexico disaster due to the difficulty of launching a clean-up job in freezing conditions.
And campaigners latched on to the news that drilling in the Chukchi sea between Alaska and eastern Russia is already in difficulty as a sign of potential risks from Arctic exploration.
Shell said the decision was a precautionary measure and was only temporary.
The Anglo-Dutch firm (up 3p to 2299.5p) will continue drilling when the ice moves on, using satellite images, radar and on-site reconnaissance to monitor the ice.
