Judges at the Supreme Court of England and Wales have begun considering a case that will determine whether or not almost 30,000 Nigerians can request compensation from the oil company Shell for land damage brought on by an oil spill in 2011.

Communities from Delta and Bayelsa State's coastal regions said that the spill had severely harmed their land.

In a previous decision, the London Court of Appeal ruled that the complaint had been filed too soon after the leak had occurred.

According to English law, a complainant has six years from the claimed incidence to file a lawsuit for property damage.

The spill was about 120km (75 miles) off the coast of Nigeria and lasted several hours before the pipeline was closed and oil stopped.

At least 40,000 barrels leaked into the sea, making it one of the largest spills ever in Nigeria.

The Nigerian communities argue that the oil devastated their shoreline and has continued to cause widespread damage to their land and water supply and so they should be allowed to seek compensation.

A ruling is not expected for months.