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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Shipwreck timber surrounds coast | Shipwreck timber surrounds coast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of pieces of timber have been washed up on the beaches across southern England after a cargo ship sank off the Dorset coast. | |
| Coastguards said the timber, several feet deep on the tide line, now stretched along the Sussex coast and was moving east towards Kent's coast. | Coastguards said the timber, several feet deep on the tide line, now stretched along the Sussex coast and was moving east towards Kent's coast. |
| The Greek-registered Ice Prince sunk about 26 miles (42km) off the coast after a storm. | The Greek-registered Ice Prince sunk about 26 miles (42km) off the coast after a storm. |
| More than 2,000 tonnes of timber have drifted 100 miles through the Channel. | More than 2,000 tonnes of timber have drifted 100 miles through the Channel. |
| Solent coastguard said timber had washed up all the way from Littlehampton in West Sussex to Beachy Head in East Sussex. | Solent coastguard said timber had washed up all the way from Littlehampton in West Sussex to Beachy Head in East Sussex. |
| He said: "What's there on the beach will stay until it is removed by contractors authorised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. | |
| "Any other wood in the Channel will move to and fro with the tides." | "Any other wood in the Channel will move to and fro with the tides." |
| See the "wood slick" In pictures: Sinking shipScavengers' wood warning | See the "wood slick" In pictures: Sinking shipScavengers' wood warning |
| He said coastguards were unable to predict where timber in the water would drift, because it could depend on whether it was affected by the wind. | |
| Dover coastguard used an aircraft on Monday to assess how far the timber had travelled. | Dover coastguard used an aircraft on Monday to assess how far the timber had travelled. |
| West Sussex County Council said there were unconfirmed reports of minor damage to sea defences. | |
| It said people taking the wood had become a "serious problem". | |
| A spokesman said: "Lots of people have been turning up, including men in vans taking a load - a significant number of people." | |
| Sussex Police have issued a warning to say removing the timber is unlawful, and if people continue to take the wood, they could be liable to prosecution and arrest under the Merchant Shipping Act. | |
| Safety warnings | |
| Worthing beach was closed at the weekend to allow heavy machinery to remove the washed-up cargo. | Worthing beach was closed at the weekend to allow heavy machinery to remove the washed-up cargo. |
| Wendy Knight, from Worthing Borough Council, said the ship's owners had appointed contractors to find a market for the timber which would then be sold. | Wendy Knight, from Worthing Borough Council, said the ship's owners had appointed contractors to find a market for the timber which would then be sold. |
| Barriers and cordons were being erected along the beach, with "public safety the key element". | Barriers and cordons were being erected along the beach, with "public safety the key element". |
| Mariners, windsurfers and canoeists have been warned that the floating wood could cause a serious accident. | |
| The 10m (33ft) lengths of sawn wood were put on board in bundles, but sea conditions broke many of them apart. | The 10m (33ft) lengths of sawn wood were put on board in bundles, but sea conditions broke many of them apart. |
| All timber sighted must be reported to Solent Coastguard by telephoning: 02392 559021 or 02392 559022. | All timber sighted must be reported to Solent Coastguard by telephoning: 02392 559021 or 02392 559022. |