Workers have been taken off a North Sea oil platform after it was hit by a supply vessel.

The Forties Echo oil platform, about 110 miles north east of Aberdeen, was shut down following the incident at 8.40pm.

Operators said there were no injuries and 15 of the platform's 30 personnel have been transferred to the nearby Forties Bravo platform.

A statement from Apache North Sea said: "Emergency procedures were activated, the platform has been shut down and there has been no leak of hydrocarbons.

"An initial visual inspection has been carried out from the platform's standby vessel and a specialist inspection team is being mobilised to assess the damage to the platform."

The supply vessel was able to return to port under its own power, the company said.

Environment campaign group WWF said the collision highlighted the hazards posed by North Sea oil and gas operations.

Director Lang Banks said: "Given the economic challenges facing the oil and gas industry right now, it's vital that they do not take their eye off the ball when it comes to protecting employees or the environment."