LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said it would increase its inspection of North Sea drilling rigs and monitoring of offshore practices in the light of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Energy and climate change minister Chris Huhne said in a statement posted on his department's website yesterday that he had also asked an oil industry group to investigate the UK's ability to prevent and respond to oil spills.

"The Deepwater Horizon gives us pause for thought and, given the beginning of exploration in deeper waters West of Shetland, there is every reason to increase our vigilance," Huhne said.

The UK plans to double the number of annual environmental inspections, the statement said.