Wreck hunters and other sea-users were given a three-month amnesty by the Receiver of Wreck last year and now a report has been published into what was coughed up.

Artefacts included: cannons, cannon balls, portholes, copper and lead ingots, coins, including pieces of eight, jewellery, silverware, cutlery, bottles of champagne, perfume, gin and vodka and large collections of crockery. Also found were chamber pots and even a pair of lacy knickers!

The aim of the amnesty was to try and return goods to their rightful owners, complete heritage surveys and to illustrate the fact that persistent offenders of wreck looting will be prosecuted.