Town planners have met with police and emergency services chiefs over fears a tsunami could swamp the Isles of Scilly. Experts believe an earthquake off the coast of Portugal could send a 10 ft wall of water into the West Country.

The disaster scenario was discussed at a recent meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Local Resilience Forum who want to produce a tsunami early warning system similar to those used in Asia and America.

A quake similar to the one off Lisbon in 1755 which was around 8.5 on the Richter scale, would wreak havoc alone south-western coasts, the meeting which was heard in Bristol, was told.

Don’t miss our Cruising Grounds special on the Isle of Scilly in the October edition of Yachting Monthly.