The National Trust is understandably jittery about a wreck off their coastline at Sennen Cove, Cornwall which could break asunder in the next depression and litter the Cornish coastline with 2,200 tons of gash plastic in sizes no bigger than a human hand.

As a result they have given the go-ahead to the Coastguard and a salvage team to try and empty the cargo from the German ship RMS Mulheim by using a conveyor belt system to the cliff top.

Also on the wreck are 19 containers of paint – the ship’s fuel oil has already leaked out and dispersed. Lobster fishermen have abandoned the vicinity of the wreck temporarily. Falmouth Coastguard say the weather is set to deteriorate this weekend.